Malachi

ScriptureMalachi 1:8When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice lame or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?” says the Lord Almighty.Observation – What does it say?Under the old covenant or the law, Israel was forgiven and accepted by God because of their sacrifices to him. God is calling them out for offering unacceptable sacrifices. They wouldn’t be okay with offering a lame or diseased animal to their governor, but they were willing to offer them to God.It was as though they were devoting their best animals to other things and giving God what was left over: the blind, diseased and lame. And, it obviously displeased God.Understanding – What does it mean?I felt convicted reading this. It reminded me of Pastor Gary's question in our current sermon series, The Journey: "How often do we settle?" How often do we go halfway in our worship and obedience?  I don't want to settle for giving part of my tithe, giving part of my life or part of my heart. And I don't want to keep the best for myself while giving God the leftovers. Jesus doesn't deserve to get put to the sidelines, to be sought when it’s convenient or as we're falling asleep at night. It's dishonoring to make sharing our faith or encouraging others something that, "I’ll try to get around to...", all the while giving the best of our time and energy to other things.God deserves and desires our best… he’s jealous for it.Life Application

God, please keep us from keeping the best of our time, energy and resources for other things. Show us the areas we have settled and been trying to offer you the lame and diseased leftovers and what it looks like for us to give you our best. Thank you for giving your best for us. Amen.

 

- Levi Thompson

 

 

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