Blind Sacrifices

Malachi is a book about people getting stuck in mundane routine as they worship God instead of out of a genuine heart to show Him how thankful they are for all He has done for them.

This book really made me think of why I do things and if I am giving God my best... or "the first fruits" of my life and worship. The people were bringing imperfect sacrifices to the temple to give to God instead of spotless and pure sacrifices.

"When you give blind animals as sacrifices, isn't that wrong? And isn't it wrong to offer animals that are crippled and diseased?" Malachi 1:8

The Bible says that we are "living sacrifices" so I had to look at what I am bringing to the Lord as a sacrifice. Am I giving Him my best when I read His Word? Am I bringing him crippled and diseased sacrifices by spending 2 minutes in prayer as I fall asleep at night? Do I set aside time to spend with Him where I devote my full attention or do I rush through it to just get it done? Do I give him my BEST when I serve Him? Do I just cherish time to spend with Him because I love Him or because it is what I am suppose to do? Do I go to church to celebrate Christ's resurrection and my freedom or because that is just what I do every Sunday?

Then it talks a about money...ouch.

Am I robbing God by the way I tithe? 3:8-10

“Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me.
But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’
'In tithes and offerings'...

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it."

Have you ever tested God by trying to out-give Him? It is impossible to out-give God. He tells us to try it.

This was such a needed book in my life to examine the motives of my heart. If you feel like you are in a spiritual rut, spend time with God thanking Him for all that He has given to you. Name them out loud. Starting with Jesus, forgiveness, your spouse, your children, creation, your church, your house, your health, food, water, etc... Spend time just worshipping God for Who He is (according to Scripture) and ask Him to renew your passion for Him. Give Him YOUR WHOLE HEART as a sacrifice.

"Then I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the Lord; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart."

Jeremiah 24:7

"From there you will search again for the Lord your God. And if you search for him with all your heart and soul, you will find him." Deut 4:29

"...in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship."

Romans 12:1

God, help us to give you our best. Show us when we are bringing diseased and crippled sacrifices to you. Give us pure hearts that just want to show you how thankful we are for every breath and every blessing you have given us. Please keep us from giving you cheap offerings that are of no value. You are awesome and majestic and worthy of our praise. Give us hearts to know you and may our lives and actions express this knowledge. Forgive us when we we rob you in giving. Thank you that we can never out-give you.

May our lives be living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to You. Captivate us.

We give you our whole heart and soul.