Worship Before the Promise
“And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.”Genesis 12:7 (KJV)
When God first spoke to Abram in the land, he gave him a promise he wouldn’t see for a long time. “Unto thy seed will I give this land.” Abram had no son yet. The land belonged to others. And the very next words are, “there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.”
He worshipped first. Years before the son came, long before the land was his, Abram built an altar on a promise.
Hebrews says that is what faith looks like. “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them.” They worshipped from the promise, not to get it.
Advent is a season of waiting. Israel waited centuries for the Messiah. We wait now for his return. If you are waiting on God for something, don’t hold your worship back until it arrives. Build the altar now. The one who promised is faithful.
Read it yourself
Read Genesis 12:1–8. How many times does Abram build an altar in these verses, and where?
What promise of God are you waiting on, and how could you worship him in the waiting?
Lord, you are faithful to your promises. Help me worship you now, before I see them fulfilled. Amen.