The Proper Response - Part 2

Malachi 1:5-6 “Your own eyes shall see this, and you shall say, “Great is the Lord beyond the border of Israel!” “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you.”

Are we making the proper response to God’s love and provision? Are we honoring Him, obeying Him and making “pure” offerings in His name? The opposite of “honor” is dishonoring contempt. Webster’s defines “contempt” as: the act of despising; the act of viewing or considering and treating as mean, vile and worthless; disdain; hatred of what is mean or deemed vile; whence in a scriptural sense, shame, disgrace. The antidote for contempt is an attitude of gratitude for God’s loving providence; trusting God with your heart.

Malachi 1:11-14 “For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts. But you profane it when you say that the Lord's table is polluted, and its fruit, that is, its food may be despised. But you say, ‘What a weariness this is,’ and you snort at it, says the Lord of hosts. You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! Shall I accept that from your hand? says the Lord. Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations.”

Malachi’s message was to a people who claimed to love God, but were really cheating God with defective offerings and left-overs in spiritual apathy and unfaithfulness. God, who provides His best, wants us to obediently offer and deliver our best for Him and His ministry. Where is our heart-connection today? Pastor Kyle’s parting question is: How am I responding to God’s love and provision at this stage in our life?  Is God our great King? Who does our thoughts, words and actions show that we truly trust?

In Christ, Brian