Exodus 20 in the last part of verse 24. "Build my altar wherever I cause my name to be remembered, and I will come to you and bless you."
That got me thinking. "Wherever I cause my name to be remembered" God says. Where is that in our lives? What are the things that God does that cause us to remember His name? Often we see it in times of trouble. I was only ten years old when the 9/11 attack on our country happened in 2001 but I still clearly remember how thousands of people flocked to churches in their communities. Our nation turned to God in a way I had never seen before. Isn't that how it often goes? Something bad happens, or something scares us, we realize that we don't have control and we turn to God, desperately seeking His comfort and help. Then the danger passes and we go on our way again. We're a lot like the lepers in Luke 17:11-17.
Ten lepers cried out to Jesus, asking for healing. He gave them instructions to show themselves to the priests and as they went they were healed. But only one man came back to thank Him.
Wouldn't you think that would be an occasion where God caused His name to be remembered? I mean healing of leprosy! That's a huge deal! And yet only one man came back and thanked Jesus for what He'd done. I think that the fact that he came back shows that the man was building an altar, a memorial, in his own heart that he would look back on in his life and remember to be grateful for what Jesus had done for him. But what about the other nine? Where was their altar?
And where is ours? So often in those times of trouble we do turn to God, begging Him for help and deliverance but how often, after He helps us, do we remember to thank Him? How often do we build an altar to Him in our hearts so that we can look back and remember His faithful deliverance? At least in my own life I know it's not often enough.
Then there's the second part of the sentence "I will come to you and bless you". Oh what a verse! But be careful. To quote a favorite song "Blessings" by Laura Story
"Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know you're near
What if trials of this life are your mercies in disguise?"
God's blessings don't always look like pretty Christmas packages wrapped with a bow and placed under the tree but that doesn't make them any less important. Our good and perfect Father gives us the blessings we need even when they're not the ones we want.
So what altar do you need to build in your heart today to remember where God has made His name known? And what blessings has He given you that you may have overlooked?
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