Malachi – Week 1 – Day 4

Impure Offerings 

READ 

Malachi 1:8-9 

8 “When you give blind animals as sacrifices, isn’t that wrong? And isn’t it wrong to offer animals that are crippled and diseased? Try giving gifts like that to your governor, and see how pleased he is!” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. 9 “Go ahead, beg God to be merciful to you! But when you bring that kind of offering, why should he show you any favor at all?” asks the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. 

Malachi told the priests how they had defiled the sacrifices. They were not offering their best to the Lord. The Lord of heaven told them to try that with their governor. In the Old Testament there were many laws about sacrifices and giving. The New Testament does not have those regulations but it is expected that believers will honor God in their lives and giving. 

REFLECT 

What are some examples you can give of having given your best to God? Did you have an option to give something less? 

RESPOND 

The standard for giving in the New Testament is not obeying some law but giving according to how God has blessed you. This is called “proportional giving.” See 1 Corinthians 16-1-3 for this, and also 2 Corinthians 9:7. Also giving to help support others is viewed as a sacrifice to God. See Philippians 4:18 for this.