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Daily eMail Devotional
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Malachi 1:6-11 A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible.
And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.
And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means: will he regard your persons? saith the LORD of hosts.
Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.
For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.
Is there a right or wrong type of offering? The answer is yes. Oftentimes we do not know what to give, is it right or wrong like Cain and Abel. Historically, God asked the people of Israel for a blood unblemished sacrifice or offering. This is the type of offering that would please and bring honor to Him; however, Cain offered fruit. Fruit is good but these are not what God hath commanded them to give. Cain blatantly disobeyed God's commandments therefore God did not accept his offering. Cain may have had a good or right motive but had the wrong offering. Likewise, the passages that we read speak of the same thing. God reproved these priests because they gave the wrong offering; it is not right in the sight of God. God is Holy and just; He deserves the best offering that they could have given him.
Below are a few reasons why God did not accept their offering:
1. They offered polluted bread on God's altar. If you know who your offering is for and you reverence that person, would you give contaminated food? I think not. You would give your best. God is not a beggar or a dog that would eat left over’s or impure food. He is Holy and just, He is a wonderful loving God. He is our Saviour. This month we are reminded to renew our commitments to mission, our faith promise, our offering to mission. The messages will probably focus on mission and giving but remember our pastor is not forcing us to give. We give because we want to; we give because we love the Lord. We give because we care for the lost souls that would be saved through mission. We give for the glory of God I Cor. 31-33. “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, d all to the glory of God. Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God. Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved." If we give as to the Lord, the blessing and reward will be ours.
2. They offered an imperfect sacrifice. It is not acceptable to offer an offering with a blemish. God required a perfect lamb. Likewise God requires us to give a perfect sacrifice; a living sacrifice Romans 12:1-2 "I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable and perfect will of God." We need to offer our complete being to him. As we focus our theme with mission, we need to give ourselves to God cheerfully and willingly. II Corinthians 9:6-8 "But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly, and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Everyman as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give, not grudgingly or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound towards you: that ye always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work”. Missionaries are not beggars and God is not begging us for our money also. In fact, he does not need our money; the point is he wants to bless us abundantly so he is asking us to give for the ministry and for missions. We cannot all go to the mission field but we can be a part of mission through giving. God knows our hearts, our labour, and our works. I know it is tough economic times, but let us search our hearts and give our best to Him who gave His very best for us.
Pastor Andy
Don't Forget -
