Christian Devotional – June 23, 2020
Before the Gap – #3
In a world changes constantly, God is constant and worthy of praise. The sun comes up in the east and sets in the west every day and God is the one who sets that in motion and maintains that. No matter what the rest of our day brings, we are to praise Him. Read Malachi chapter 1 verses 10 through 14.
“Oh that there were one among you who would shut the gates, that you might not uselessly kindle fire on My altar! I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord of hosts, “nor will I accept an offering from you. For from the rising of the sun even to its setting, My name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense is going to be offered to My name, and a grain offering that is pure; for My name will be great among the nations,” says the Lord of hosts. “But you are profaning it, in that you say, ‘The table of the Lord is defiled, and as for its fruit, its food is to be despised.’ You also say, ‘My, how tiresome it is!’ And you disdainfully sniff at it,” says the Lord of hosts, “and you bring what was taken by robbery and what is lame or sick; so you bring the offering! Should I receive that from your hand?” says the Lord . “But cursed be the swindler who has a male in his flock and vows it, but sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord, for I am a great King,” says the Lord of hosts, “and My name is feared among the nations.”
Malachi 1:10-14 NASB
https://bible.com/bible/100/mal.1.10-14.NASB
Even though God is worthy of praise, the people were not praising him. They were not giving him the honor and reverence and respect that he was due. We may know in our heads that God is God, but do we live our lives based on that truth? Do the actions that we take and the decisions that we make reflect the holiness of God? Are others able to tell that God is holy because of the actions that we take or don’t take? God is constant and God is holy, whether we are declaring that are not. Ultimately everyone will recognize and be forced to acknowledge the holiness of God.