January 28th, 2018 - Will you bring your best?

January 28th, 2018 - Thoughts for your Week

Scripture: Ephesians 5: 15-17

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

Will you Bring your Best?

“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.”

Malachi 1: 6-10

Suppose your favorite celebrity was coming over for dinner this week. How would you react to that? Would you open the door to them dressed in your sweats and lead them into your messy house and offer them leftovers for dinner? Or would you do everything you could to make yourself and your home ready, with the choicest foods laid out on the table? Of course, you would do the latter, because you want to give your best for such an occasion. You are in relationship with the almighty God who created the heavens and the earth and all that is in it. He spends every day with you. Do you offer your best to Him?

In times of Jewish worship in the Old Testament, the people were expected to offer their best for the sacrifices, because God deserves the best. In Malachi’s days, the priests lost sight of honouring God with their best. They began bringing the blind and lame and sick animals for sacrifice, because why waste a perfectly good animal. They were simply going through the motions of worship. God, in turn, was angry at their lack of respect and reverence for Him. There was no honour in their sacrifices. His response was that they should ‘shut the doors’ because they were wasting their time with their less than stellar sacrifices.

What does it mean to ‘honour God with our lives’? What does that look like in your own life? Do you value what God values? Are your priorities in line with God’s priorities? How do you spend your time and money? Do you have integrity with your spare time?

The only way to really do these things the way God expects us to is to stay in God’s word; to be consistently reading, meditating, and studying the bible. It will help us see where we are wrong in our living and where God wants to lead us. Because our aim should always be to glorify God.

2 Chronicles 16:9 says; “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.”

He is looking for those that worship in spirit and truth, who seek Him with everything, and bring only the best to Him.

Take some time now to prayerfully consider; are you offering God your best or are you giving him your seconds?