“You shall make an altar to burn incense on; you shall make it of acacia wood. 2 A cubit shall be its length and a cubit its width—it shall be square—and two cubits shall be its height. Its horns shall be of one piece with it. 3 And you shall overlay its top, its sides all around, and its horns with pure gold; and you shall make for it a moulding of gold all around. 4 Two gold rings you shall make for it, under the moulding on both its sides. You shall place them on its two sides, and they will be holders for the poles with which to bear it. 5 You shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold. 6 And you shall put it before the veil that is before the ark of the Testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the Testimony, where I will meet with you. 7 “Aaron shall burn on it sweet ncense every morning; when he tends the lamps, he shall burn incense on it. 8 And when Aaron lights the lamps at twilight, he shall burn incense on it, a perpetual incense before the Lord throughout your generations.” Exodus 30:1-8 NKJV
Our Father,
At the beginning of their journey to the promised land the children of Israel received the 10 commandments and were instructed to built a portable Temple and all that was needed for worship. To keep their focus and attention on who was really in charge and worthy of their worship. We are reminded by Paul, in the New Testament, that You God now dwell within us by Your Holy Spirit and we have become Your Temple (1 Corinthians 6:19). Remind us that You are still God and the only one worthy of our worship.
You placed great importance on burning incense on the altar every morning and again at twilight, giving a perpetual aroma. And no one else could use that particular aroma. The Psalmist says in 141:2 “Let my prayer be set before You as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.” The Old Testament points to the New. We are no longer outside the Holy of Holies offering incense. Jesus opened the way to know You personally God. (Hebrews 10:19-23). We need to offer up out worship.
We need to focus on You as we journey home. To remind ourselves who really is in charge and worthy of our worship. So our lives become like a sweet fragrance. A sweet-smelling incense offered by Christ to You, God, which spreads among the saved and the lost ( 2 Corinthians:14-15). Keeping us sweet. This is a perfume I want and need to be in the world every day Father God.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen
Worship Friday 21st February 2026
I haven’t heard this for a while. Psalm 113:1,2. Simple and profound.
From the rising of the sun
to the going down of the same,
the name of the Lord is to be praised.
From the rising of the sun
to the going down of the same,
the name of the Lord is to be praised.
Praise yea the Lord
Praise Him all ye servants of the Lord
Praise the name of the Lord.
Blessed be the name of the Lord
From this time forth and forever more
From the rising of the sun
to the going down of the same,
the name of the Lord is to be praised.
From the rising of the sun
to the going down of the same,
the name of the Lord is to be praised.
Praise yea the Lord
Praise Him all ye servants of the Lord
Praise the name of the Lord.
Blessed be the name of the Lord
From this time forth and forever more
Lyrics: Paul S Deming
Hello and Good morning
Thank you so much for “Start the Day”. It is a number of years now on advice from a dear friend that I added your devotional to my morning list. It means so much to read not least the bible piece but also your thoughts and prayers. The music to follow is to be cherished.
May our Lord God Jesus Christ bless you