READING:
One-year plan: Malachi 1-4, Matthew 1-2
Two-year plan: Jeremiah 47-48, Hebrews 6:13-7:10
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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. 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.
I’m guilty there, too, however. 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.
PERSONAL REFLECTION: Do you ever give God leftovers?
PRAYER: “God, forgive me. I want to give You my best.”
TOMORROW’S READING:
One-year plan: Matthew 3-6
Two-year plan: Jeremiah 49, Hebrews 7:11-28
MEMORIZATION VERSE (September 16-30)
“For he is the living God, and he endures forever; his kingdom will never be destroyed, and his dominion has no end.” (Daniel 6:26)