Bringing Everything to the Altar

“Consecration invites us to put everything we have on the altar-to hold nothing back."

                          --H. Wallace Goddard, Drawing Heaven Into Your Marriage (p. 99)

           This last week I have been pondering a lot about the prophet Abraham from the Bible. When he was younger he really upset by the traditions of his father who had turned away from righteousness and was worshipping gods.  Abraham yearned for righteousness and for the priesthood. He had a desire to follow God and seek after knowledge and he wanted to follow the commandments. He was even going to be sacrificed. He was placed on an altar and plead with the Lord and the angel of the Lord saved him.  He placed everything on that alter, literally himself. The choices he made to forsake those idols and gods and follow God placed him in a place where they sought his life enough to place him on that alter. It was on that altar that Abraham turned to God and really chose Him. He turned away from the traditions of his father and he dedicated and consecrated his life to the Lord.

            Later on, and only after Abraham was over 100 years old he had a son. Isaac, his son, again faced having to make an incredibly difficult choice. God tested Abraham and asked him to sacrifice his son, Isaac. I cannot imagine what that would be like for a parent. He knew he was not supposed to kill. He knew what it was like to be placed on an altar to be sacrificed. It probably went against everything that felt natural to him.  But, he did as God commanded.  His son, Isaac was also willing to lie on the altar. In the end Abraham did not have to sacrifice his son. They both proved to God their willingness to consecrate their lives to Him, to follow Him.

            They both brought everything to the altar, holding nothing back! I have thought a lot about Abraham. I thought of how I needed to hear this story right now at this time in my life.  This world is a really hard place to live in sometimes with the winds of change constantly around us. I need to make sure I am continually trying to use all my time, talents, strength, property, and money to building up Zion (p. 93). Abraham has taught me it takes great sacrifice.  This is especially true in marriage.

            Over 15 years ago in a temple of God, I also knelt at an altar made covenants with the Lord and my husband. I came to that alter and knelt in front of my husband. It was the sweetest, most tender, and sacred experiences of my life. On that day I intended to put everything on that altar, holding nothing back.  That is what marriage really is all about. Consecrating everything we have to our marriage and placing it all the altar for the Lord to bless.

            It got me thinking about what I can place on the altar right now, holding nothing back, that will help me in my marriage. One thing I can do is to give my best effort to my marriage and not only the leftover at the end of my day.  Another way I can do this is by forgiving my husband every time in the hopes he will graciously do the same for me. One more thing I can do is to serve him daily without expectation of a reward. 

 I hope as I learn to consecrate my life it will strengthen my marriage.

**See Abraham 1-2 and Genesis 22