Malachi – Week 1 – Day 3

Defiled Sacrifices 

READ 

Malachi 1:6-7 

6 The LORD of Heaven’s Armies says to the priests: “A son honors his father, and a servant respects his master. If I am your father and master, where are the honor and respect I deserve? You have shown contempt for my name! But you ask, ‘How have we ever shown contempt for your name?’ 7 You have shown contempt by offering defiled sacrifices on my altar. Then you ask, ‘How have we defiled the sacrifices?’ You defile them by saying the altar of the LORD deserves no respect.” 

Although we are no longer under the Old Testament Law, the priests of that day can be compared to religious leaders today. In his writing, Malachi raised questions and then gave God’s answers. The leaders of that day had shown contempt for God because they did not treat the altar in the temple with respect. The altar was the place for worship. Today it would be serious not to treat the worship of God with respect. 

REFLECT 

Do the leaders in your local church show a high respect for the holiness of God? As others observe your life do they see you serve a holy God? Give some examples. 

RESPOND 

Moses and Aaron were not able to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land because they did not treat God as holy before the people. Read about this in Numbers 20:9-13.