Have you ever been disrespectful to a parent and then questioned about it? At our house, when a kid talks disrespectfully to me, Joe steps in, asking, “Is that how you need to talk to your mother?” This scenario is similar to the next question and answer section in Malachi, which addresses the lack of respect toward God.
Malachi
1:6-10 6 “A son honors his father, and a slave his
master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master,
where is the respect due me?” says the Lord Almighty.
“It
is you priests who show contempt for my name.
“But
you ask, ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’
7 “By offering defiled food on my altar.
“But
you ask, ‘How have we defiled you?’
“By
saying that the Lord’s table is contemptible. 8 When
you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice
lame or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your
governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?” says
the Lord Almighty.
9 “Now plead with God to be gracious to us. With
such offerings from your hands, will he accept you?”—says
the Lord Almighty.
10 “Oh, that one of you would shut the temple
doors, so that you would not light useless fires on my altar! I am not
pleased with you,” says the Lord Almighty, “and I will
accept no offering from your hands.
God’s words reveal a harsh reality: He would rather the priests close the
temple doors and stop all sacrifices than tolerate their hollow and insincere worship.
Their defiled animal sacrifices and empty rituals were detestable to Him.
It’s easy to condemn the priests and Israelites for their actions.
However, what about our own worship? Do we sometimes go through the motions
when we pray, sing worship songs, give our tithe, or serve? Are our worship
services truly filled with sincerity and devotion, or would God prefer that our
church doors be closed if our services are vain and self-focused, lacking genuine
love, honor and respect for Him? Let’s examine our own acts of worship and
participation in church, and discern whether they truly honor and respect God.
Alice
