When Was the Last Time

"When you say, ‘The altar of God is not important anymore; worship of God is no longer a priority,’ that’s defiling. And when you offer worthless animals for sacrifices in worship, animals that you’re trying to get rid of—blind and sick and crippled animals—isn’t that defiling? Try a trick like that with your banker or your senator—how far do you think it will get you?” God-of-the-Angel-Armies asks you.
Malachi 1:7-8 The Message Bible

God was angry with the worthless sacrifices that were being made by His people. They were bringing less than their best - animals that they were trying to get rid of—blind and sick and crippled animals - abysmal by any standard, just enough to give the appearance of worship. Convenient and certainly cheaper to provide. And it made God furious with them!

We don't do animal sacrifices, so how does that equate to our world today? Hebrews 13:15 reads, Let’s take our place outside with Jesus, no longer pouring out the sacrificial blood of animals but pouring out sacrificial praises from our lips to God in Jesus’ name.

When was the last time we stopped thinking about the bills long enough to enter into worship? When was the last time we had only God on our mind as we worshiped? When was the last time we purposely entered the church with one thought - only one - on our mind - that we were there to worship the King of kings, the Creator of the universe? When was the last time we laid EVERYTHING aside and worshiped at the feet of Jesus?

If we are not pouring out sacrificial praises from our lips to God in Jesus’ name - then what we are pouring out is worthless.

Prayer:

Father,
            Convict our hearts, O God! Change us! Cause us to fall back in love with You - to return to our first love with You. Forgive us for offering You anything less than our all. As You promised in Jeremiah, Father, give us a heart to know You, that You are the LORD: and we shall be Your people, and You will be our God: for we shall return unto You with our whole heart. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen