"I Make Stones"

Exodus 20:22-25
The Lord God commands the children of Israel to build an altar out of stones to offer their sacrifices on, burnt and peace offerings. I've been wrestling all weekend with verse 25 that says, "And if you make Me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stone; for if you use your tool on it, you have profaned it" (NKJV). The NLT translation says, "Do not shape the stones with a tool, for that would make the altar unfit for holy use." On and on I was praying and wondering and studying trying to find out why on earth shaping the altar would profane it. We build churches and temples and set up monuments with our hands, shaped stones, for worship of God. Searching the word hewn in the KJV revealed that the Israelites repeatedly hewn the stones of God's temple. So what changed? What's the significance of this command? - I asked God. His reply was, "I make stones."

As a worshipper, I can see very clearly in my life what has brought me to the place where I am to be a minstrel unto the Lord. In fact, He was the One who showed me that truth. He's always been shaping me to be used, if only for a season. (Who would I be to say it's my call in life, when it's only a place I may now serve.) Yet, He makes stones. Our own agendas, our own notions and ideas of what conjugates worship, the thoughts and ideas we can spew out of chord progressions and this and that - it's all null. He makes the stones. After everything He allows us to prepare and all the skills and talents He gives us - It's His presence alone that makes or breaks what goes on. The anointing is our highest goal. That is why we cannot profane ourselves. Yes, sharpen your skills on the instrument - in His grace - never of your own account that you might attest to the skill your hands have created. Who created your hands? He makes the stones on which we sacrifice. He makes the stones.

This is something that's also on my heart for any area of ministry. We study to show ourselves approved but He guides the things we say and He guided us to a place where we might say them. Praise God

I pray we can learn to fall on Him, our rock, and be broken as Matt. 21:44 says, "He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed."

"Here am I and the children whom the LORD has given me!
We are for signs and wonders in Israel
From the LORD of hosts,
Who dwells in Mount Zion." Isaiah 8:18