READING: Malachi 1-4
It’s hard to believe, actually. The priests of the ancient world offered sacrifices to God, but the sacrifices they offered were not the best they had to give. In fact, the animals they offered were blind. They were lame. They were diseased. So offensive were they to God that He even dared the priests to offer them to their political leaders; even they would find the sacrifices unacceptable: “'Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?' says the Lord Almighty" (Mal 1:8). To drive the point home even more deeply, God said He would prefer to close their place of worship rather than accept their “useless fires on my altar” (Mal 1:10).
The religious leaders of the day gave God less than their best, and perhaps even less than their second and third best. You almost get the sense that they intentionally chose what they did not want and could not use, and they gave those animals to God. They “sacrificed” what would cost them little. They gave to God their leftovers. I say it again, it’s hard to believe, actually.
It’s hard to believe, at least until I genuinely think about my own life. How often do I give God my second best or my leftovers . . .
- when I try to fix things first and then turn to God for help only when I must?
- when I give to God the dollars that are really out of my excess — the dollars whose loss really doesn’t hurt me?
- when I plan my days and weeks according to my goals, and then give to God only my leftover hours if I have any?
- when I give Him my second best effort, assuming it will be enough?
- when I commit attention and time to read a sports magazine, and turn to the Bible only after I’ve read whatever else I want to read?
- when I give God my life only as long as His plan already matches mine?
You see, I’m just as guilty at times as the priests were in Malachi’s day. May God forgive me, as I want Him to be pleased with my offerings.
ACTION STEPS:
- Honestly evaluate your life. Are you giving God your second best?
- In your decisions today, determine in each case to give God your all.
PRAYER: “God, forgive me for giving You less than my best at times. Thank You for giving Your all for me.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Matthew 1-4
