The heavenly father speaks just as a friend would speak to us. His words strengthen, support, encourage and soothe us. But there are times when His words go straight into the depth of our heart piercing it like a double edged sword. The impact can often be felt literally when you sit there stuck, in His presence, as His words echo within!!! This message was one of those.
Malachi 1:8
And when you give what is blind for an offering, it is no evil! and when you give what is damaged and ill, it is no evil! Give it now to your ruler; will he be pleased with you, or will you have his approval? says the Lord of armies.
I don't know about you all, but I certainly had my boundaries all demarcated. I thought I would just settle in as a good Christian with all the love for my Lord secured within. I would share the love of God to those who surround me and maybe do something in church and sit back and relax. That was certainly what I had planned for myself. Though Lord kept pestering me through many of His servants, to dive deeper into the pool of anointing and to enter into another grade of relationship with Him, I stood firm within the circle I drew.
Then one day, these words jumped from the bible and pierced me deep "How can you settle for a lesser gift if you really love God?". Won't all the sacrifices unto Him be of the highest quality if you really really love Him? O Come on, He gave His best.. His very best indeed!! His only son.
The verse put a different thought into me. If I kept saying Lord here I am.. as a living sacrifice I give myself and all those good stuff you say and YET..YET refrain from giving my best unto the building of His kingdom, how can I ever stand in His presence boldly? How can I say with a clear conscience that I sacrificed my best offering? I would turn out to be no less than a hypocrite in doing so.
His word asks me to give my best. The best of my time, the best of my energy, the best of my Talents, the best of everything. After all whatever I have is only what He has given me. Why should I hold back from giving it all into His kingdom? Why should I refrain from giving it all??? Why should I draw boundaries and set limits to how far I can go when He has showered on much more than I can ever give back?
If you and me can put in more energy and better of our resources and the best of our talents for all the worldly things, why are we holding back from doing the best unto His kingdom? Why do you give him the second best when you can easily go for the best with a little more dedication, an ounce of courage and another pinch of effort. Its not the situations nor the society that is often binding us but it is our lax mentality when it comes to spiritual matters. We limit ourselves with a 'This is enough' button. I think this is another phrasing for 'This is all you deserve Lord'. Ouch! That sounds bad right? That is exactly what the Lord says in Malachi.
The Lord asks us a simple question: Why do you bring to me the crippled when you have a healthy sacrifice all in store for your king? In today's world, it can be modified to 'Why do you bring me your lazy efforts for my kingdom when you spend hours trying to please your boss? Am I least of who deserves your best??'
All of us who shout our love for Christ in churches and forget all about it in day to day life, let us be awakened to the question the Lord has put forth. Are we doing our best for His kingdom? Are our sacrifices pure and complete? Or are they half hearted efforts like the crippled lambs? Renew yourselves ye children of God. Give Him your best in everything especially your talents. Use them for His glory.
To all the writers out there, may your pens write for the glory of kingdom. Let your words overflow with His love!
To all you artists, may your creation reflect His grace and mercy!
To all you singers out there, let your voice lift up His name in all the earth!
To all the dancers, dance for His kingdom!
To all the creations, you are gifted with one thing or the other, use it for His kingdom and in the very BEST way possible. Stop bringing crippled sacrifices. He deserves the best and the best is what you bring to the one you love!!
