Malachi 1:11-14
“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.
“But you profane it by saying, ‘The Lord’s table is defiled,’ and, ‘Its food is contemptible.’ 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. “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.”
God is saying this to them and you and me, this thought should stay fixed in your mind, and come alive in your heart, that 47 of the 55 verses in Malachi, is God speaking. But in saying that 2 Timothy 3:16-17, came into my thinker, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God a may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Often, we the readers of Scripture do not ask the right question of the Spirit of God as we read. The question we should always ask is this past, present, or future, what God is informing the people and the priest has not happened yet. If you visit the book of Matthew 8:10-12, you will see Jesus speaking many years later around 460 B.C. A Roman Centurion comes to Jesus asking for Him to heal his servant, and Jesus agrees to go with him to his home. Where this gets interesting; the Centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.” Jesus replies, “ When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
The question and the answer will not change; the question is who are you putting your faith in, self or God? The way to know the answer is what controls your thought life, how do you use your time, and how do you use the money God has blessed you with? When you search your heart, it will become clear if the sacrifices that you bring to the Lord are blemished. Never forget these words from God; “For I am a great king,” says the Lord Almighty, “and my name is to be feared among the nations.”
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
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