2010-01-14

The Answer to the Problem of Despising God

"A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, 'How have we despised your name?' By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, 'How have we polluted you?' By saying that the LORD's table may be despised. When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the LORD of hosts. And now entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand, will he show favor to any of you? says the LORD of hosts. Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the LORD of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand. For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the LORD of hosts. But you profane it when you say that the Lord's table is polluted, and its fruit, that is, its food may be despised. But you say, 'What a weariness this is,' and you snort at it, says the LORD of hosts. You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! Shall I accept that from your hand? says the LORD. Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For I am a great King, says the LORD of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations. (Mal 1:6-14 ESV)


The answer to our problem won’t be found in any self-help book…even from the Christian section of the book store. You won’t find it in “10 steps to your best life now.” The Christian character is developed by the 66 books of God in our Bible, and not by any 10-step program that’s meant to show us a short cut.

If we find that we suffer from some of the spiritual sickness that I’ve spoken of, we can only seek healing from God our Great Physician. Specifically we must come to an understanding of who God is to worship Him properly.

We must not be satisfied with seeing Him as a tame lion, but as a lion that does as He pleases, one that deserves our fear and reverence.

We must not be satisfied with Him being a King who is always happy to give and never considers discipline, but rather as a King who wields His great authority over everything and every area of our lives. Not just to rule over us for an hour on Sunday, but always and everywhere.

Our worship will please God as we begin to treasure Him in our hearts above all else. Not through mere lip service, but by how we live our lives. Do we place Him as first importance when we’re afraid to tell others about Him or when we proclaim His glorious Gospel to others? Do we place Him first when we pray as long as we get what we want from Him, or when we pray to Him without ceasing in the good times and the bad…whether His answer is “yes” or “no?”

We must make God more than an accessory to our lives. He has to be more than a piece of jewelry or a bumper sticker to us. He must be our entire life…a consuming fire to us. I pray that we would sacrifice everything for the glory of Christ and no longer be satisfied with giving Him whatever time’s left over from our busy schedules.

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