Offering Our Earthen Altars: Embracing Humility in Worship
Exodus 20-21; Matthew 13; Psalm 109
In the simplicity of our faith, there’s a profound truth: Our God desires no extravagant offerings of gold or silver. Instead, He asks for something far more humble yet infinitely more precious – an altar made of earth.
Exodus 20
23 “You shall not make gods of silver to be with me, nor shall you make for yourselves gods of gold. 24 An altar of earth you shall make for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen. In every place where I cause my name to be remembered, I will come to you and bless you.”
Ponder this: We, formed from dust, are that earthen altar.
Upon this altar of our hearts, Jesus, our ultimate sacrifice, is laid. The burning of this offering, the rising of its fragrance to God, is enkindled by the Holy Spirit and fire.
In this narrative, I’m drawn to Jesus’ preferred self-designation during His time on earth: the “Son of Man.” It’s a title that speaks volumes. Not the “Son of God,” equally true, but the “Son of Man.”
He embraced humanity to redeem humanity.
He bypasses the need for altars of gold or silver, which might be beyond many. What He asks for is an altar of earth – accessible to all.
The scripture continues…
25 “If you make me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stones, for if you wield your tool on it, you profane it.”
Here lies a divine instruction: Do not fashion an altar. Do not reshape it. Do not present anything crafted by your own hands. Simply offer your very self.
26 “And you shall not go up by steps to my altar, that your nakedness be not exposed on it.”
Do not elevate this altar. Avoid the temptation to ascend through your own efforts or exalt yourself. Remember, the Lord meets us in our humility, in our raw and unadorned state.
This brings to mind a passage from Philippians:
Philippians 2
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
So, what shall we offer Him? We offer our true selves. We place Jesus on the altar of our hearts, our earthen altars. We give Him all that we are and all that we have.
So, let’s offer Him what we have. Let’s offer Him who we are. Come Jesus, we set you on the altar of our heart, our altar of earth. All that we have, all that we are, is yours!
Deepening Faith: Reflective Journal Prompts
- Reflecting on the Earthen Altar: Contemplate what it means to offer yourself as an ‘earthen altar’ to God. How does this concept influence your understanding of personal sacrifice and worship in your daily life?
- The Humility of Jesus as the ‘Son of Man’: Reflect on Jesus’ choice to identify as the ‘Son of Man.’ How does this title and His example of humility impact your approach to faith and interactions with others?
- Responding to God’s Call Without Gold or Silver: Consider what it means to respond to God without extravagant offerings. In what ways can you offer your simple, genuine self to God, devoid of material embellishments?
- Self-Reflection in the Light of Philippians 2: Meditate on the teachings of Philippians 2 about humility and service. How can you apply these principles to cultivate a more Christ-like mindset and attitude in your life?
- Personal Commitment to Humble Worship: Journal about how you can practice humble worship in your daily routine. What are some specific actions or changes you can implement to deepen your relationship with God through humility and selfless devotion?
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