Have you ever taken someone or something for granted? The Israelites took God for granted and discarded His love. They failed to recognize and honor His greatness. They even viewed their service to Him as a burden.
Malachi
1:11-14 11 My name will be great among
the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every
place incense and pure offerings will be brought to me, because my
name will be great among the nations,” says the Lord Almighty.
12 “But you profane it by saying,
‘The Lord’s table is defiled,’ and, ‘Its food is contemptible.’ 13 And
you say, ‘What a burden!’ and you sniff at it contemptuously,” says
the Lord Almighty.
“When you bring injured,
lame or diseased animals and offer them as sacrifices, should I accept
them from your hands?” says the Lord. 14 “Cursed
is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but
then sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord. For I am a great
king,” says the Lord Almighty, “and my name is to be
feared among the nations.
The Lord Almighty is great, deserving reverence and fear from all. How
have we, like the Israelites, discarded God’s love and failed to recognize His
greatness? Do we ever view time spent reading His Word or participating in
service as a burden? What about giving our tithe? Do we give generously and regularly,
or do we withhold it or give begrudgingly?
One day, all will recognize His greatness.
Romans 14:11 It is written:
“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before me;
every tongue will acknowledge God.’”
