Exodus 20:26 And you shall not go up by steps to my altar, that your nakedness be not exposed on it.’

A misstep is to take a step we did not intend to take. This quote in Exodus might seem confusing when read out of context but the instructions were in creating wilderness altars of stone.

The stones formed the altar and it was not to be so high and lifted up that its sacrifices could not be placed there without stepping stones to elevate the sinner to a position of ability to make that sacrifice. The reference of nakedness takes us all the way back to the Garden and Adam’s confession of shame in being seen naked.

We cannot place our sacrifice of shame at the altar of forgiveness by hiding our shame.

Many feel that it is important to clean up our acts before coming to church. This is exactly the wrong attitude and keeps sinners from finding the peace of God that is so freely offered.

Luke 5:32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.

That is not to say that only sinners need to repent. Even those of us that follow Jesus have missteps.

Psalm 37:23 The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way;

Clearly we need to know the way in order to see what steps are established by the Lord in the way that we should walk. Sinners who have not repented cannot see the Way.

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

In this life we have found in Christ our focus can be so intent on not making a misstep that we forget that this journey’s destination is set to come before the Father.

The opposite is also true. We look for signs that have been given about end time prophecies that will tell us where we stand in the church age and seeing afar off, we do not look where we are stepping. We forget that how we walk is more important than where we walk.

The other message in Exodus 20:26 is a warning of elevating oneself in the need to feel worthy. Those steps to that altar are built on the pride of life.

1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Ecclesiastes 4:13 Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice.

During our sojourn on this earth we give and receive advice from sources we trust. None are so trusted and well informed than the Holy Spirit.

This morning’s reading says in my heart “I want to go there.” The Spirit says “No, don’t go there.”

So I ask why. His answer is simple, “Because it will not help the people I want to reach.”

So I will yield to my God and Savior and Comforter.

I have a trusted accountability partner in the Lord that is but a few years older than me but in walking with the Lord he is decades ahead of me. I submit my wandering thoughts to him from time to time when I am not sure if my message is going to help others in need. Both of us have a heart for those who could benefit from Godly wisdom. We want to help, not control.

Advice in the Spirit can take on two forms, solicited and unsolicited. I have asked my partner for solicited advice and here today, I am giving unsolicited advice to an unknown audience in the hopes that the Spirit will direct these words to those who need it.

What is our present destination? Is it a short distance or a great one? Will you walk, drive or fly? Will weather be a factor? Is there unrest in the cities you travel through? How prepared are you for the possibilities that might spoil your plans? What is the purpose of your journey? All these questions and more might require information to come from different sources.

Now for the unsolicited advice. Did you ask advice from the Spirit of Truth before you began making plans?

We have gotten used to making so many decisions in this world that it seems so unnecessary to bother God with the minutiae.

Isaiah 29:4 And you will be brought low; from the earth you shall speak, and from the dust your speech will be bowed down; your voice shall come from the ground like the voice of a ghost, and from the dust your speech shall whisper.

Are we prepared to deliver a message from our God in those little moments?