Abram was a man who built altars. Three times in the beginning of the Abram story we read of him building altars to the LORD at significant points along his journeys. When he first arrived in the land of Canaan which God had promised to him and his ancestors “he built there an altar to the LORD” (Genesis 12:7.) When he arrived at his future settlement between Bethel and Ai “there he built an altar to the LORD” (Genesis 12:8.) And, when he arrived near the oaks of Mamre at Hebron “there he built an altar to the LORD” (Genesis 13:18.) Abram built altars.
An altar is a place where sacrifice is made. It’s a place for honest reflection. For confession. For receiving the assurance of God’s mercy. For expressing gratitude. And for moving on to the next stage with renewed purpose and passion. An altar is a place where we can re-center our life in the presence of God. Where we can renew our awareness of and obedience to the Holy Spirit whom Jesus breathed into our souls at baptism.
Along his journey Abram built altars to the LORD. In so doing, he re-centered his life in the Presence of the One who is Holy. Our days are 24-hour journeys. We wake each morning with the reminder that Jesus has sent us into the day ahead as the Father sent him. We close our eyes each night with all the activities of the day swimming in our mind. Along the way there are many detours and opportunities to wander off the Jesus Way. Unless we remain present to the Presence of the One who is Holy. Unless we remain aware of our own movements. Unless we mark the turning points of each day by building our own altars to the LORD. By pausing to remember God’s mercy and providence; by recognizing (yet not being controlled by) our own missteps; by giving thanks; and by returning to the Way for the next leg of our daily travels.
(Image from https://childrenschurch.wordpress.com/2014/01/26/god-calls-abram/)