My Sacrifice

Then tidings came to Joab: for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he turned not after Absalom. And Joab fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD, and caught hold on the horns of the altar. And it was told king Solomon that Joab was fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD; and, behold, he is by the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go, fall upon him. And Benaiah came to the tabernacle of the LORD, and said unto him, Thus saith the king, Come forth. And he said, Nay; but I will die here. And Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me. And the king said unto him, Do as he hath said, and fall upon him, and bury him; that thou mayest take away the innocent blood, which Joab shed, from me, and from the house of my father. (1 Kings 2:28-31)

Thought For Today:

Spiritually speaking, I think it’s easier to sacrifice at the altar, than it is to die at the altar. When I say die at the altar, I mean true repentance. We give our offerings, pray, and even stand around the altar, but few are willing to die at the altar. The sacrifice was killed and placed upon the altar. If we are called to be living sacrifices, we should come to the altar and be ready to give it all. Once I die to this world and my flesh, I no longer have anything trying to draw me away from the Lord. Sin has no dominon over you when youare dead to sin. And that should have happened to you at an altar of repentance, as repentance is death. Death to this world and oneself. So if we are dead, Paul said that we should not serve sin. In so many ways, we may have to die daily the same as Paul did. (I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily - 1 Corinthians 15:31.) When Benaiah came to the tabernacle of the LORD, and told Joab, Thus saith the king, Come forth. Joab said, "Nay; but I will die here." Joab was saying, No, I will die right here at the altar.