Bethel

I often heard Christians talk about going back to their first love. It was understood this was a place in time when a believer first fell in love with God. Here they first met their loving Savior who held out His arms and drew them close to His heart. Often such an beautiful encountered happened while they were still enslaved by sin and in a deep miry pit.

I agree this is where I heard God speak so clearly and felt a strong love toward Him. But as I matured in Christ the realization of going back to such a place was impossible.

Beloved, I believe we are not to go back as much as move forward with Him despite our present condition. And such a movement forward serves to mature and deepen our fellowship with Him. This unfolding revelation of love for Him (and He to us) is possible only through worship.

Perhaps that is why God spoke to Jacob in Genesis 35:1, "Then God said to Jacob, "Go up to Bethel and settle there, and build an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau." (NIV).

Jacob's life had been very difficult. He ran from his brother after he deceived Esau out of his birthright. Then he worked for Laban his uncle and father-in-law for twenty back breaking years. Jacob was cruelly mistreated until God directed him to leave. Now his two sons took matters in their own hands after their only sister was raped. The thought of going back to Bethel where he had first encounter God after his life was made difficult left little joy and love to be experienced.

Except God said to Jacob go to Bethel and build an altar.

Bethel was a place of remembrance as the Scriptures indicates, "...who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau..." As I read this passage I felt the Lord remind me to come back to a heart of worship. I realized there had been very little worship and thankfulness. I was complaining and groaning over the lack of finances and wanting another place to live other than the one I found myself and there was the ministry at church which proved too difficult.

When we worship Him despite prayers unanswered or how we feel spiritually or how we envision our lives we will find our love for Him renewed. And in that moment of simply thanking Him we discover that regardless to a certain place or our present state God remains faithful to love us.

As we walk through this life with Christ ever so often we must stop at Bethel to build an altar of worship. He brought us thus far and will remain with us until the end.