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BLemished Sacrifices

Hi all, this is my long overdue entry man. Been so busy the last few weeks that I have not had the time to blog anything. Anyway, here's something that I have really been reflecting on for the last few weeks, ever since I've read this verse.

Malachi 1

Here's what erally caused me to stop and think very hard about my own life:

"A son hounours his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, where is the honour 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 have we shown contempt for your name?' 'You placed defiled food on my altar.'
"But you ask, 'How have we defiled you?'
"By saying that the Lord's table is contemptible. 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.

What really cuts me first and foremost is the reminder that in the New COvenant, I am a priest, and this is definitely being directed at all followers of Christ. It goes on to question where is the respect and the honour that is accorded to the Lord, and goes on to describe how we have dishonoured Him - by offering him sacrifices (in our context, it would be the way we live or worship)that are blemished.

It serves as a constant reminder that in my life, there have been times when I have offered up blemished sacrifices to the Lord, and have been guilty of not giving of my best to the Lord. I think sometimes as Christians, we have got it the other way round - we offer sacrifices to the Lord, because of our immense gratitude to the Lord for his Salvation. But at times, we treat it as if God should be lucky and thankful that we even bring the sacrifices at all. And this really brings to mind the question - Who is the Creator, and who is the created? I think that we need to get one thing clear. God does not need our sacrifices (if we are going to give him our leftovers), but it is done to remind us of the greatness of the mercy of God, and to remind us of the gift that He has given that we are so unworthy of.

THe verse really ends off with a question if we would even bring these blemished offerings before our governors. Imagine giving the PM or even your bosses crappy gifts or sacrifices? What more the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

It has really made me think about my own life of worship to the Lord, in my daily living of my life before God and before man. It really also makes me think about my own priorities in my life.

THe question really remains - Are we giving the Lord of our best? Or are we really just giving Him the leftovers of our lives?

Cheers,
JONATHAN YOONG