Do You Really Honor And Respect God?
The LORD of Heaven's Armies says to the priests: "A son honors his father, and a servant respects his master. If I am your father and master, where are the honor and respect I deserve? You have shown contempt for my Name . . . You have shown contempt by offering defiled sacrifices on my altar . . . "You defile them by saying the altar of the LORD deserves no respect.
When you give blind animals as sacrifices, isn't that wrong? . . . Try giving gifts like that to your governor, and see how pleased he is!" . . . Go ahead, beg God to be merciful to you! But when you bring that kind of offering, why should He show you any favor at all?" asks the LORD of Heaven's armies.
. . . Cursed is the cheat who promises to give a fine ram from his flock but then sacrifices a defective one to the LORD. For I am a great King," says the LORD of Heaven's Armies, "and my Name is feared among the nations!" Malachi 1:6-14 (NLT)
When you give blind animals as sacrifices, isn't that wrong? . . . Try giving gifts like that to your governor, and see how pleased he is!" . . . Go ahead, beg God to be merciful to you! But when you bring that kind of offering, why should He show you any favor at all?" asks the LORD of Heaven's armies.
. . . Cursed is the cheat who promises to give a fine ram from his flock but then sacrifices a defective one to the LORD. For I am a great King," says the LORD of Heaven's Armies, "and my Name is feared among the nations!" Malachi 1:6-14 (NLT)
It is very easy to talk religion and not back it up with action. It is easy to claim that we love God and do nothing to underscore that love. It is easy to say we love, respect, and honor God without doing anything concrete to back it up!
Love, respect, and honor are all action words. The Bible says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son . . ." (John 3:16)
The Israelites made promises to give their best offerings to God but when the time came, they selected the worst among the flock -- the blind, lame and weak animals. God was saddened. The Great King was angry! He challenged them to offer the same gifts to their governor and see if he would accept it! But alas it was just God! They could afford to disrespect him by giving them their rejects! But there was an attendant curse with that kind of behavior! Treating God with contempt has consequences, but our callous human hearts lead us to do that all the time!
We should give our very best to God because He not only gave us His best in the form of Jesus, but He continues to give us His best by way of His Spirit and His word! It is important that we keep the promises we make to God! When you promise to give God a portion of your Time, Talent or Treasure; don't play games with it. Honor your promise to God and you will be blessed.
Do you really love, honor, and respect God? Then let it show in the practical ways in which you serve the LORD with your Time, Talents and Treasures! Give God your best; not your worst!
Love, respect, and honor are all action words. The Bible says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son . . ." (John 3:16)
The Israelites made promises to give their best offerings to God but when the time came, they selected the worst among the flock -- the blind, lame and weak animals. God was saddened. The Great King was angry! He challenged them to offer the same gifts to their governor and see if he would accept it! But alas it was just God! They could afford to disrespect him by giving them their rejects! But there was an attendant curse with that kind of behavior! Treating God with contempt has consequences, but our callous human hearts lead us to do that all the time!
We should give our very best to God because He not only gave us His best in the form of Jesus, but He continues to give us His best by way of His Spirit and His word! It is important that we keep the promises we make to God! When you promise to give God a portion of your Time, Talent or Treasure; don't play games with it. Honor your promise to God and you will be blessed.
Do you really love, honor, and respect God? Then let it show in the practical ways in which you serve the LORD with your Time, Talents and Treasures! Give God your best; not your worst!
Prayer: Lord, my desire is to honor you with the best of my substance. Please help me never to consume on myself what I should give to you by way of Time, Talents, and Treasures. Amen.