Hey there, friends! I hope this finds you well and ready for a heart-to-heart conversation. You know, a couple of weeks ago, I had this dream that stuck with me. I found myself in my church cleaning up the altar. It seemed like a simple dream, but as I reflect on it, I realize it carries a profound message.
Fast forward to a Sunday morning worship session, where a deep desire to intercede for the altar and the altars of our hearts overwhelmed me. It was like a nudge from the Holy Spirit, prompting me to start within myself and then extend that prayer to the larger body of believers and our leaders in ministry.
Why am I sharing this experience with you? Because, my dear friends, I believe it's a call for all of us—a call to repentance and seeking Jesus regarding the condition of our hearts. As New Testament believers, we understand that Jesus is our altar, and He resides in us. His blood cleanses us, and this journey involves salvation, repentance, and staying in step with the Holy Spirit.
Let's dive into the concept of an altar. The term comes from a Latin word “altarium”, meaning "high," and it's a sacred place for sacrifices and gifts offered to the Lord. An altar is a place of separation, where we consecrate ourselves, stepping away from the things of the world and cleaning up the junk that needs to go. This, my friends, is how we clean up the altars of our hearts.
Repentance becomes a key player here. We ask the Holy Spirit to reveal anything within us that shouldn't be there, and with humility, we lay it down in surrender. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we move away from it. The altar of Jesus in us becomes a source of supernatural power and strength to live according to His will. It's where God meets us—it's the secret place inside of us, where our spirit is alive to hear His spirit.
Just yesterday, I woke up with a strong nudge from God to explore the meaning of the altar, and He led me to Matthew 15:8-16. ““‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.9 They worship me in vain;their teachings are merely human rules.’[c]”10 Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. 11 What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”12 Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?”
13 He replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. 14 Leave them; they are blind guides.[d] If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”
15 Peter said, “Explain the parable to us.”
16 “Are you still so dull?” Jesus asked them. 17 “Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? 18 But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. 20 These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.”
Jesus emphasizes that it's not just about external rituals; what's within us needs cleansing. Then, in Matthew 5:23-24, He takes it a step further, urging us to reconcile with others before offering our gifts at the altar.” 23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.” Unforgiveness has no place in a heart devoted to worship.
Jesus is our altar, and it's always about our hearts with Him—what's going on inside. So, let's pause for a moment and ask ourselves: What needs cleaning up in our hearts? Is there anything we're exalting over Jesus? Are we carrying unforgiveness? He desires the best version of ourselves walking in freedom.
Let's embark on this journey together—cleaning up the altars of our hearts, repenting, and surrendering to the transformative power of Jesus within us. After all, it's a relational and conversational walk with the One who calls us to a life of authenticity and love.
In Him,
Heather Bradley
Comments