A son honors his father, and a servant his master.
Then if I am a father, where is My honor?
And if I am a master, where is My respect?’ says the Lord of hosts to you,
O priests who despise My name. But you say, ‘How have we despised Your name?’
You are presenting defiled food upon My altar.
But you say, ‘How have we defiled You?’
In that you say, ‘The table of the Lord is to be despised.’
But when you present the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? Malachi 1:6-8
God wants to relate to us as our Heavenly Father. Some, having difficulty with that intimacy want to relate to Him as in a Master-Slave relationship. Master or Father, either way, God deserves our love, honor and respect. In Malachi’s day, the priests brought defiled animal sacrifices before God. It was not what He required and it revealed their hearts were not really for Him. It was actually, so far from God, goodness, and love… it was evil!
How can I give the best from my heart to God today?
God in Heaven, Jesus in my heart… I wonder if the sacrifices of praise and the offering of my time and resources are pleasing to You! Are my prayers upon Your altar a sweet smelling aroma. Cleanse me and fill me with Your Spirit and accept my life as a living sacrifice and acceptable offering.
