Malachi – Week 1 – Day 5

Unacceptable 

READ 

Malachi 1:10-11 

10 “How I wish one of you would shut the Temple doors so that these worthless sacrifices could not be offered! I am not pleased with you,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, “and I will not accept your offerings. 11 But my name is honored by people of other nations from morning till night. All around the world they offer sweet incense and pure offerings in honor of my name. For my name is great among the nations,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. 

God had required the sacrifices, but now He called what the priests were presenting as “worthless sacrifices.” The Lord of heaven’s armies let the Israelites know that those in other nations would offer sacrifices to Him. God had chosen Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their descendants to become the nation of Israel and to be a blessing to the world. Even if Israel refused to do this, God had others who would honor His name. 

REFLECT 

Do you frequently praise the Lord for what He has done for you? What are you thankful for today? 

RESPOND 

In the New Testament era, the sacrifices that please God are the way believers live their lives. See Philippians 2:17 for this. At the time of death a believer can view life as having been poured out as an offering to God. See 2 Timothy 4:5-7 for an example.