“’I have loved you,’ says the Lord. But you say, ‘How have you loved us?..’ ‘I have loved Jacob but Esau I have hated…’ Your own eyes shall see this, and you shall say, ‘Great is the Lord!..’
“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… For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great.., 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. But you profane it when you say that the Lord’s table is polluted, and… its food… despised. You say, ‘What a weariness this is,’ and you snort at it… You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick… as your offering! Shall I accept that?.. 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.” Malachi 1:2-3a,5,6b-8,11-14
With conversational reasoning, the prophet unsettled self-centered complacency by exposing convoluted thinking and false conclusions. Israel failed to understand God’s gracious and particular affection for no desert of hers. Therefore, with a conflated view of self and low view of Him, they did not recognize their subpar offerings and polluted worship. Eyes of the heart fitted with a lens of God’s greatness and holiness see everything differently.
Attitude, words, and behavior reveal what we value, how we view God, what we think of ourselves and our relationship to Him. Many, stoked by pride, greed, or insecurity, crave significance and do all we can to justify our actions and existence and make ourselves great. The world promotes and applauds this mindset.
But for those beloved of God and saved, the heart knows and exhibits a different story. We’re daily humbled by God’s undeserved affection, and desire to give Him our best and all. We seek His glory, not our own, delighting to magnify His greatness and renown. In practical deliberation and duties, which describes me?
God’s name will be exalted whether we fear it or not. Will we choose to be among those who live only for today and ourselves? Are we self-absorbed, asserting rights, cutting corners, incessantly arguing? Or will our lives be enriched and have eternal significance because we worship the great God in spirit and in truth? It takes a deliberate de-throning of self to enthrone the high and Holy One in every aspect of life. When are we meditating on and how are we exalting His greatness? (Malachi 2:2; John 4:24)
“Great and amazing are your deeds,
O Lord God the Almighty!
Just and true are your ways,
O King of the nations!
Who will not fear, O Lord,
and glorify your name?
For you alone are holy.” Revelation 15:3-4a
Great and worthy King, captivate me always with a high and holy view of You so I honor You in affection, word, and deed.
As the rain and snow 