I opened the little carton of
chocolate milk and took a big swallow – then spit out the chunks. I tried
everything I could to get rid of the taste in my mouth, because my stomach
wanted to join in with its contribution to awful flavors. I learned to
cautiously sniff the cartons before I tasted to avoid a similar experience. I
would never offer the stuff to guests.
It seems odd to me that we would
not serve spoiled food to company, yet we will give God tainted offerings. I
have seen people give opened foodstuffs to missionaries – a half-eaten jar of
peanut butter comes to mind. I have seen a piano that sat outside in the
weather offered to a church. I have witnessed people giving their old beat up
things (some that didn’t even work) to the Lord. Doesn’t it seem wrong to do
so?
I know that these people meant
well, but would you give the stuff to somebody that you love? Would you serve
spoiled food to guests? The Israelites were doing this kind of thing and God
told them that He would not accept their offerings. This astonished them. The
point is that God deserves our best. He loves us and wants the best for us.
The question for today is: Does
God deserve the best I can give?
“Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we
polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible. 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. And now, I pray you,
beseech God that he will be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means:
will he regard your persons? saith the LORD of hosts. Who is there even among
you that would shut the doors for nought? neither do ye kindle fire on mine
altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither
will I accept an offering at your hand.” Malachi 1:7-10.
© copyright Kevin T Boekhoff
https://tugsandnudges.wordpress.com/2015/08/10/nastiness-in-a-carton/
No comments:
Post a Comment