Off The Altar...

Last Sunday Pastor Bobby spoke on the difference between Spa and Spur from Hebrews 10:24-25 which says, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

He displayed the physical action of what it looks like to actually SPUR someone on... he went on to share a personal experience with what it looks like when in Christ we try to spa one another on versus spur. Often in the church we see the term love being described in soft and gentle terminology. It could be very easy to dismiss the term spur as 
Insensitive 
Harsh 
Hard headed
Intolerant
Stuck in the mud
Traditional
Evangelical 

Because along with the term spur we often see people who are willing to call into question Biblical morality and sin. Not sin of the world, but sin within the Church. Deviation from Gods call on us as Christ followers. Let me not get off course. This message spoke directly to me. How I have needed a spur. There have been critical points where over this past year I have felt I was being coddled and “spa’d” rather than spurred. 

Grieving, anticipatory grief, painful personal experiences and deep wounds from those I thought were friends but lied... these circumstances brought me deep emotional, psychological and spiritual wounds I have had to find healing for. In the midst of seeking that healing though I allowed myself to become angry at God. Rather than continue trusting Him and His plans I became upset He had NOT intervened in several deeply troubling circumstances I truly believed on Him to do so... and instead I was disillusioned and honestly felt several times that I was dying in so many ways.

I think that’s actually exactly what God intended though. In the death of so much of what I thought I was clinging to and where I thought I was, God has brought me back into His arms of grace, He has sought me and spoken truths to my heart. He has shown me the way everlasting. Psalm 25:4 Show me the right path, O LORD; point out the road for me to follow. The people in my life, like my counselors, have brought the spurring I needed to find my way back. 

Pastor Bobby ended the message with this poignant reminder; and tearfully I sat to ponder. 

“Have you gotten off the altar?” In other words, have you tried to take Gods place away from Him and been unwilling to surrender your life, your body, your hopes and prayers, your everything to HIM? Saying, I am Yours Lord! Tears filled my eyes and I willingly got back on the altar. I am done being angry at the One who is worthy for me to sacrifice everything for the sake of His purposes and will for my life. I am done trying to be hyper vigilant in anything other than prayer! 

God keep bringing me back! Your MERCY in view is what calls me to offer my body and my life, everything to You as a sacrifice—my spiritual act of worship! Romans 12:1-2 

I don’t want to ever get off of the altar again. I am Yours Lord! My life is a sacrifice. Thank you for the deep, wide, unimaginable mercy of Christ. I am unworthy of such a sacrifice. Thank you for not forsaking me. In Jesus name, amen.