Honor and Respect

In my current Bible study we are studying through the book of Malachi... the last book of the Old Testament.  Since this past September we have been studying the Israelite's return to Jerusalem, the rebuilding of the temple, and the reconstruction of the walls around the city. At this time in the history of Israel, in the book of Malachi, sacrifices have resumed at the temple.  But the Lord is not pleased... and He uses Malachi to get His point across...

" 'A son honors his father, and a servant his master. Then if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is My respect?' says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests who despise My name.

But you say, 'How have we despised Your name?' 7 "You are presenting defiled food upon My altar. But you say, 'How have we defiled You?' In that you say, 'The table of the LORD is to be despised.' 8 "But when you present the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you present the lame and sick, is it not evil? Why not offer it to your governor? Would he be pleased with you? Or would he receive you kindly?" says the LORD of hosts. 9 "But now will you not entreat God's favor, that He may be gracious to us? With such an offering on your part, will He receive any of you kindly?" says the LORD of hosts.

10 "Oh that there were one among you who would shut the gates, that you might not uselessly kindle fire on My altar! I am not pleased with you," says the LORD of hosts, "nor will I accept an offering from you.

11 "For from the rising of the sun even to its setting, My name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense is going to be offered to My name, and a grain offering that is pure; for My name will be great among the nations," says the LORD of hosts. 12 "But you are profaning it, in that you say, 'The table of the Lord is defiled, and as for its fruit, its food is to be despised.' 13 "You also say, 'My, how tiresome it is!' And you disdainfully sniff at it," says the LORD of hosts, "and you bring what was taken by robbery and what is lame or sick; so you bring the offering! Should I receive that from your hand?" says the LORD. 14 "But cursed be the swindler who has a male in his flock and vows it, but sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord, for I am a great King," says the LORD of hosts, "and My name is feared among the nations." Malachi 1:6-14

God is not pleased... The people are not giving Him their best, they are not respecting and fearing Him for the Great King and Lord that He is.  His name is to be feared among the nations.  Instead they are offering him their "leftovers"... they are saving the best for themselves.  He longs for someone who will close the door to these unacceptable sacrifices and tell the people to quit wasting the trivial amount of effort they are putting forth.  They are going through the motions... they have no heart and no mind in their sacrifices.  

What does it tell the world when we give our Lord a small window of our time?  What does it tell the world when we save the best for ourselves and give away our "leftovers" to those in need?  What does it tell the world when we would rather our kids see all the Disney movies than know the Word of God?  What does it tell the world when we spend the bulk of our time on things that have no eternal value?  What does it tell the world when we allow the filth on tv and in movies to influence our minds and our children's minds more than the Word of God? 

Does that communicate honor and respect for our God? 

God wants our best.  He wants us to live in a way that shows the world that He is a great King and that His name is to be feared.  He wants us to live in a way that communicates His great love for us.  Read God's Word and be astounded and awed at what He has done for you.  Dig deep into His Word and learn of His lavish grace and His lovingkindness that is everlasting.  Do this and your life will become a life of worship to Him... and others will be drawn to Him through you, and He will be honored and glorified through your life of worship. 

Go and read your Bible... then go and offer our great God a sacrifice of praise for all He has done for you! 

(If you do not have a Bible and want one, message me or leave me a comment and I will make sure you get one.)