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Point of Repentance: Withholding Worship
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Scripture:
Malachi 1:6, 14
“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am the Father, where is My honor? And if I am a Master, where is My reverence? Says the Lord of hosts to you priests who despise My name… But cursed be the deceiver who has in his flock a male, and takes a vow, but sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished – for I am a great King,” says the Lord of hosts, “And My name is to be feared among the nations.”
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Observation:
One of the most personal indictments against Israel was the fact that they were withholding their worship from God. They were giving Him the unvaluable, unwanted leftovers instead of the first of the best and the best of the first. This grieved the Lord and made Him angry. It also diminished His glory in the eyes of other people because if God wasn’t worthy of the best of His own people, why would He be worthy of the best from outsiders?
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Application:
1 Peter 2:9 tells us that, in Christ, we are all priests who minister before God. We do not offer animals, as Jesus, the Slain Lamb of God has offered sacrifices once and for all in His own body (Hebrews 10:12). Our sacrifices are sacrifices of praise (Hebrews 13:15), thanksgiving, the raising of our hands, and spending time with our Heavenly Father.
We must repent of withholding our love, praise, and honor from God – of giving Him the leftovers instead of making time with Him the priority.
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Prayer of Repentance:
Jesus, I love You. Thank You for today. You are holy. I repent of not spending quality time with You and making You a priority in my life. I don’t want to be a priest that dishonors You but delights in Your presence. Forgive me for offering up short half-hearted prayers and disengaged worship. You are worthy of it all. May You grant me the humility, wisdom, and strategy for worship worthy of Your greatness and majesty. Amen.
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Worship: