Monday, 21 December 2009

• The Best of the Flock: Are You Giving God Your Best?

  I was reading the bible today and came across a passage that was very convicting, so I thought I'd share it.
  
  For a little historical context, this passage was given to the Jews during a time when they had just been given a lot of freedom by the Persians who had taken over their land long before. They had been allowed to rebuild the Temple and to rebuild the city walls of Jerusalem. During this time, they had reason to have great hopes that God was going to fully restore them in the near future, but as things started to take awhile, they apparently became apathetic toward God and the way they treated Him showed it.
  
  A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, 'How have we despised your name?' By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, 'How have we polluted you?' By saying that the LORD's table may be despised. When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the LORD of hosts. And now entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand, will he show favor to any of you? says the LORD of hosts. Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the LORD of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand. For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the LORD of hosts. But you profane it when you say that the Lord's table is polluted, and its fruit, that is, its food may be despised. But you say, 'What a weariness this is,' and you snort at it, says the LORD of hosts. You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! Shall I accept that from your hand? says the LORD. Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For I am a great King, says the LORD of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations.
   - Malachi 1:6-14
  
  The people offered poor sacrifices to God: blind, sick, and lame sheep as sacrifices instead of the required spotless and healthy ones. They were giving Him their leftovers instead of their best.
  
  Christians today aren't expected to offer sheep of course; instead, we are called to offer our lives as living sacrifices before God (Romans 12:1-2).
  
  Then the conviction came. Am I offering my very best to God, or am I holding back? Does God get the first of my income or what's left over after I pay my bills and blow the money? Does God come first in where I spend my time, or does He only get those 5 minutes right before I go to bed?
  
  For me, it was something to really think about. Hopefully it will be for you too.
  
  Are you giving your best to God, or just your leftovers? What are some of the fears that comes along with giving your best?
  

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