"My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me." (Galatians 2:20 NLT)
I finished Hinds Feet on High Places a few days ago. It is a Christian classic about a wretched, lame little thing named Much Afraid. And with exertion and perseverance, Much-Afraid elects to follow her Shepherd out of the Valley of Despair into the High Places. Ultimately, she trades her low and dismal perspective for the Shepherd’s perfect outlook. But all along the way, she is required to build little altars and sacrifice portions of herself.
The view from a high place over Easter weekend. <3
I appreciate the altars. Having followed Jesus for almost forty years, I am well acquainted with the many little deaths to self that must happen upon the path to holiness. I’m convinced, sanctification requires a lifetime and surrender is a learned skill. Graciously, our God and King gives us occasion after occasion to crucify our flesh. Each time we do, we rise a bit more like Christ in temperament and character.
We can resist these little altars. We can refuse to comply and remain stuck in our nature. But we must remember, we’ll never reach the high places apart from a little crucifixion here and there. Think of the Hall of Faithers – they each endured these altar moments. Noah burnt off his reputation. Abraham set fire, too, first to his comfort and then to his hope of descendants. Moses ignited his Egyptian upbringing, and later, his predictable existence in Midian.
We cannot tread on high places with our self intact. Sacrifice is crucial to the sanctification process. When we make peace with this, we being to build altars all along the way. With ever altar, we find ourselves lighter, more adept to follow the Shepherd into the altitudes He prefers.
"And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice – the kind He will find acceptable. This is the way to truly worship Him." (Romans 12:1 NLT)
Lord, we don’t like building altars and burning off the parts of our life that don’t please You. We don’t like this life-long process of dying to self. Yet today we see it as essential to the sanctification process and we’re still keen on that. We cannot become who You created us to become without first shedding the parts of ourselves that get in the way. Please give us resolve to gather around the Word and light the match You require when we meet another altar opportunity. We are determined to follow You into the High Places, at all costs. Bolster our hearts as we learn to live in uncontended obedience to You. Amen.