QT: Half baked or Not at all? Mal1:10-11 Week 39: 20/09/2023. Wed
Half baked or Not at all?
https://www.esv.org/Mal1:10-11
Week 39: 20/09/2023. Wed
Half boiled egg or medium rare beef might be useful for some diners. But religious rites without the heart support them dishonours the recipient.
Malachi 1:10–11 [10] 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. [11] 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. (ESV))
Malachi points to two things for reflection. Firstly, the recipient of the offerings felt that no offerings is better than offerings offered with insults attached to it. It is like giving someone mouldy or rotten stuffs meant to be eaten.
Secondly, the contrast with those who are supposedly far away showed that they responded better—those far away were able to offer "a pure offering" rather than offerings tainted with insincerity or dishonour.
Reflection: Is lack of quality or quantity infecting the offerings of all kinds that we bring to the LORD today? May we offer to the LORD gifts that are an aroma pleasing onto Him.
