Spend time in prayer and silence with God asking Him to meet with you and speak to you.
Bible Reading
“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?” says the Lord Almighty. “It is you, O priests, who show contempt for My name. “But you ask, ‘How do we show contempt for your name?’ “You place defiled food on my altar. “But you ask, ‘How have we defiled you?’ “By saying that the Lord’s table is contemptable. When you bring blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice crippled or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your Governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?” says the Lord Almighty. “Now implore God to be gracious to us. With such offerings from your hands, will he accept you?” says the Lord Almighty.
– Malachi 1:6-9
Devotion
In dealing with the priests, Malachi declared their corruption. The very people who were supposed to be leading people to God, instead were dishonoring God by abusing the sacrificial system of worship for their own gain. Their greed was evident and God calls them out. They not only took advantage of their position as priests, but they turned a blind eye to the disobedience of God’s people. This once again shows how far their hearts were from God’s heart.
The Big Question
In the New Testament, we are told that as believers we are a “kingdom of priests”. As followers of Jesus, we are called to lead people to God. How does the above passage speak to us today about our role as “priests” in the kingdom of God? What are some ways that we might show contempt toward God in our worship? Do you strive to give God your best in your worship and service for Him?
End your time in prayer and silence reflecting on what God revealed to you today.