“And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice is it not evil? And if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? Offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee or accept thy person? saith the Lord of hosts.” – Malachi 1: 8(KJV)
It is inconceivable that an individual will offer a gift of lame, sickly and blind cow to the king of his village talk less of the Governor of a state. From this passage we can understand the depth of God’s grief from the example the prophet gave. In Leviticus chapter 22 the bible enumerated the sacrifices that are unacceptable to God as instructed by Him. Leviticus 22:22(KJV) “Blind, or broken, or maimed, or having a wen, or scurvy, or scabbed, ye shall not offer these unto the LORD, nor make an offering by fire of them upon the altar unto the LORD.” What we cannot offer to our fellow man we offer to God. We ridicule the Almighty by our sacrifices of praise, worship and thanksgiving that are polluted by the evil of our being. Robbers and embezzlers give very fabulous testimony to God even at the altar. We take God for granted and use the altar to boost our ego. We present stolen money to God as tithe. We put hand in the public treasury and cart away millions and then come to God and donate from it for church building. Politicians give so much to the church from their ill-gotten wealth as sacrifice to God. We applaud them. Even the ministers of the gospel who knows the source of such wealth encourage their members by appointing them to building and harvest committees. Blood monies have found their way to the offering bag. What sacrifice do you render unto God? Do you behave in such a way that your actions presents God as blind? These are offerings of ungodliness. When we come to praise God what is the state of our heart? We take God for granted and behave carelessly before Him. We seriously need to repent of our sins and seek forgiveness from God so that our offering will be acceptable as an offering in righteousness. Malachi 3:3(KJV) “And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness”. Remember as a child of God that the bible says in 1 Peter 2:9 that you are of a royal priesthood and a holy nation. In Rev. 1:6 and 5:10 the bible reveals that Christ has made us kings and priests to our God. As a priest to the Most High what sacrifice are you offering unto Him?
Prayer: Father, release the Spirit of the fear of the LORD upon my life, which will guarantee my sanctification and make my offering an offering of righteousness. In Jesus Name.
Bro. Joel Ezeugo