Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from human firstborn to the firstborn of animals. Therefore I sacrifice to the Lord every male that first opens the womb, but every firstborn of my sons I redeem.”
NL Daily Devotion for Friday, January 3, 2025
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
Nothing we have is our own. This law from Exodus is a reminder of that. Even my own children are God’s. Over the years, I have experienced unbelievable amounts of angst about my children—both of whom are on the Autism spectrum and have a lot stacked against them. I had a Christian therapist for a while, and I remember her having me visualize literally laying my children on an altar. The altar I visualized was the one at the Chapel in the Hills in Rapid City, South Dakota, a replica of an 800-year-old Norwegian Stavkirke (staff church). I had visited there in 2006 and was deeply moved by it for some reason.
This visualization exercise gave me a great deal of peace. It reminded me that no matter what happened, my children were in God’s hands. And her hands are way more reliable than mine. I could continue to diligently advocate for their needs and be way more effective because I trusted God with the outcomes.
Mary and Joseph dedicated Jesus in this way, their firstborn male child. They sacrificed two turtle doves in redemption for him according to their religious custom of that time. By this act, they were putting him on the altar, too. They probably did not know at that point how literal this would wind up being in the end for their beautiful baby boy. But one can hope that they trusted that no matter what happened to Jesus, God was the one in charge, and it would all be okay.
What things can I “put on the altar” today?
