Bring Your Best To God

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. —  Malachi 1:6-8

Where these spiritual leaders could find no personal fault in themselves, God has. His indictments are significant because one of the primary duties of a priest was tending to the offerings brought by God's people and atonement for the sin of the people. And yet here, God declares that the spiritual leaders have broken from the biblical mandate by allowing animals to be used for atonement that did not meet the requirements. The Levitical Law was clear that all offerings (burnt, free will, or vow) required a perfect male bull, sheep, or goat. They needed to be animals without blemish and could not be blind, disabled, mutilated, emitting a discharge, have an itch, scabs, abnormal body parts, bruised testicles, crushed testicles, or torn testicles. Don't believe me, then just read Leviticus 22:17-25.

But while they have made little of these minor imperfections, dismissing them as insignificant, God has not. They are a huge deal because they are one example of how they despise him rather than honor and fear him. And Malachi contrasts this with the honor and fear they give to men with mere human authority and power — like the governors of Babylon. And so, God has made his point. God's people have despised him. And even worse, the people are actively being taught by the example of their spiritual leaders.

So today, let's do what these followers and spiritual leaders failed to do. Let's bring our best to God. Our best motives. Our best thoughts. Our best attitudes. Our best message. Let's bring the best of our talk, worship, discipline, and love. And let's bring it and offer it as a better sacrifice to Him. After all, God's brought his best, an unblemished sacrifice to the world for us. Why wouldn't we do the same?

ASK THIS: What sacrifice will you bring today?

DO THIS: Bring it to God.

PRAY THIS: God, I am bringing __________ to you today.

PLAY THIS: There Is A Name.