“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. But if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is your fear of Me? Says Yahweh of Hosts to you priests, who despise My name.” Yet you ask: “How have we despised Your name?” “By presenting defiled food on My altar.” You ask: “How have we defiled You?” When you say: “The Lord’s table is contemptible.” Malachi 1:6-7 HCSB
Last Sunday on Mother’s Day, our pastor preached a sermon about honoring our mothers. The Bible commands us to honor our fathers and mothers. It is a command that comes with the promise of long life. To honor someone is to give great respect and reverence.
The priests were dishonoring the Lord. The offerings to the Lord at the temple were to be perfect without blemish, but the priests were allowing the people to offer blind, crippled, and even diseased animals to God. The priests had set a bad example by offering less than perfect sacrifices to the Lord. They were not honoring the Lord with their best.
Challenge: What are you offering to the Lord? Is it your best? What you offer to God both in your life and in your gifts is a reflection of your attitude toward Him. Do not be like the Israelites who offered God their leftovers instead of their best; offer your best to Him and see how He uses you to accomplish great things for His kingdom. Read Romans 12:1 and offer yourself as a living sacrifice to God.