Disrespect, over the many generations.

Malachi 1: 6-10

“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, O priests, who despise my name. 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 was 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.”

When I read a direct word from my God, who is proclaimed in the verses above, I marvel that God has allowed this kind of disrespect, over the many generations.   Many of you have no respect for your dad, who you can see, and many dads have done great harm to their children, but your Father in heaven has always loved you beyond your understanding.  So God asks the question,

“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?

It is easy to attend church and check off we did it, and when the priest or preacher teaches from the Scripture and shares the message from the Lord, you say in your mind, that is what they are trained to say and dismiss the Word of God.  Is that honoring your Father?  When the Holy Spirit prompts you to change your direction and doing so will cost you time and money, do you listen and obey?   God is not like you, or me, can you imagine speaking the universe into being, or creating everything that is?  And yet we who often do not obey a Holy God or His Spirit who lives in us, and are we so foolish as to think God is blessed to have children like us?  Once more I must remind you to “examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith.”  These are not my words but are taken from 2 Corinthians 13:5.  The apostle Paul does not stop there he goes on to say; Test yourselves!  Or do you not realize this about yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you? – unless you fail to meet the test.” 

I was never ready for a test, never studied and it showed up on my test, deficient grades and unhappy teachers and parents.  None of my so-called friends care that I did not review, but God cares wants you to keep taking the test, keep searching your heart to see what your heart desires.  Do you give God the best or are you like the people of Malachi’s day, you bring an offering to God of His blessings that is not equal to the grace you have received.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice