Pastor Bell's Words To Live By

When God called Abram (Gen 12), he heard the call and followed him immediately. There was no ‘let me get my house in order’ or let me throw a party and say goodbye to my close friends. He left his father’s house with all their cultural practices and went after the invisible God. This is the kind of faith that God (Yahweh) responds to, people who listen to his still small voice, hear clearly what is being said and then act. Abram was a mature man when he was called by God and was given promises that seem to take an age to ‘come to pass’. However, as soon as he came to the first landmark after following the Spirit of the Lord, he was reminded of the promises from God [I will bless you and give the land of the Canaanites to your offspring, v.7] and we are told that he built an altar to the Lord (Gen 12:8). I would suggest that as he travelled by stages towards the south, at every landmark where he heard from God he would build an altar.

Today I want to ask the question, when was the last time you heard the voice of the Lord? And when or where did you build your altar?

For Abram and his descendants an altar was a place where they sacrificed animals, turtledoves and so on. It was a place of death. Where life was taken and blood was shed to preserve their own lives. Today, we can build an altar. On this altar, there is no need to offer up animals or birds, but one where we offer up sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving. Therefore, it could be at the side of your bed or in your office. Offer up praises that we are saved and thanksgiving for all the marvellous things that God has promised us.

So today, go on, build your altar.  Read Genesis 12.1-9.