The Events of a Thursday night, recent and far.

Tonight we did something a little different. Usually in the middle of rehearsal we stop for a short time of devotion/study. Recently, while researching something else, I came across information about the Passion Week, which got me thinking. What was it like for Jesus during His last week prior to His crucifixion? I looked at the triumphant entry into Jerusalem celebrated on Palm Sunday up to the crucifixion, which led us to celebrate the cross during church last Sunday. Then, I focused on Thursday. What got me thinking was that we were having our final Easter rehearsal on the day traditionally viewed as the night of the last supper. Rather than the usual time of teaching, something needed to be different.

After we finished the rehearsal, rather simply teaching, we sat everyone in two rows of chairs, facing each other. Starting with the first person on each row, we symbolically washed each other’s feet, telling them we loved them with the love of the Lord. Now, some people might think this silly or not take it seriously, but the imagery was incredible. Acknowledging our love for each other in Christ, our willingness to serve each other and put each other ahead of ourselves, it drove home in my heart the way Christ did that for us, not only in washing His disciples’ feet, but in the ultimate act of placing others ahead of Himself when He died on the cross. It was a gesture not just of servanthood and humility, but of the sacrifice Christ was about to make for all of us.

When we were done, we took a loaf of bread, and, in following Scripture, broke it, blessed it, and passed it to each other, each person tearing off a piece of the loaf to eat in remembrance of Jesus’ body being broken for us. I wish I could paint you a picture of what that looked like. First, breaking the loaf apart – Jesus’ body was broken for us. Then, the tearing off of pieces – I could see the whips tearing into Jesus’ back and body, shredding the skin, the agony He suffered for us. As people ate the piece of bread they tore off it struck me how Christ’s body was consumed in the payment for my sin. (As we celebrate Easter we must always remember that Resurrection Sunday always follows Crucifixion Day.)

Next in the story Jesus passed the cup, after He blessed it, stating that it was His blood poured out in a new covenant. While we didn’t want to pass one cup around for all to drink out of, we gave everyone a small cup. I held in my hands a bottle of grape juice, red liquid, and as we prayed I couldn’t help but think of the fact that we were about to pour out the juice just as Christ’s blood was poured out for us. It was hard to speak for a moment as that thought overwhelmed me. Then, to see each person pouring out the juice into their cups, realizing that Jesus had poured out His blood for each one of them, it was almost as it I could see His blood being applied to each life.

It was a reminder of how costly our salvation really is. God came to earth and died for us. It isn’t something that we can ever take lightly, but a very serious charge given to us to live up to. And, just as we passed the bread and the juice, so to must we take this incredible gift of grace and share it with all around us. We can’t keep it to ourselves. We must all be lights shining the truth of the hope of the gospel to everyone we meet, sharing with them the love and grace that God has so freely given to us. Amazing what washing feet and passing around bread and juice can show a person.

Carry with you the image of Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf. Ponder it as you think of the crucifixion. Allow your heart to overflow with rejoicing when realizing that Jesus didn’t stay in the tomb but rose again and is alive today, sitting at God’s right hand, speaking for us. Allow God to reveal more of what He’s done for you to your heart as you live out a life worthy of the sacrifice made to set you free. Then, when we get together on Sunday morning to celebrate, we truly do celebrate the greatness of our God with hearts overflowing in worship and adoration of Him.

Malachi 1:14

God calls someone "Hypocrite!" You know you have to done something bad to be called hypocrite by God. In a message dealing with what we offer in worship, God brings this pronouncement. "There will be harsh condemnation for the hypocrite who has a valuable male animal in his flock but vows and sacrifices something inferior to the Lord." (NET) In other words, God calls someone a hypocrite (and promises condemnation) when they come to Him with an offering of worship that is blemished and imperfect when they hold back something much more valuable. God demands our best in worship, and when we come to Him acting like we're something greater than we really are, when what we bring isn't the best we have to offer, rather is something we almost throw together at the last minute, we offend Him greatly. It's a scary thing to offend God, the Creator of the universe and the only All-Powerful Being. Tick Him off and look out.

Just look at what He's said to Israel and her worship leaders (priests) so far in the message He gave through Malachi. "You've strayed so far you can't even see how much I love you and how evident My love for you really is." (v. 2-5) "You have dishonored Me and made light of My name, and you can't even see what you've done. You think you're still all right with Me and don't realize how displeased I am with you." (v. 6-9) "You've profaned My Temple by considering My table as common, something you just do every week because it's required. You even turn your nose up at it and consider it tiresome." (v. 12-13) Pretty harsh words to the people who considered themselves the children of God. In verse 10 God wishes someone would close and bar the door to the Temple rather than have to put up with the false and fake worship the people were offering. Wow. The God of the universe Who desires that all men worship Him would rather close the place of worship than face another day of dishonest worship. No wonder He pronounces judgment on those who don't offer their best to Him.

So, how does that apply to us today, to those of us who call ourselves the children of God? Was this just a warning message to the Israelites over 2,400 years ago, or does this message carry warnings for us today? Well, let's ask the question. If God Who never changes can't stand dishonest worship from the Israelites, do you think He would appreciate or accept less than honest worship from us today? If the blemished offerings gives back then upset Him so greatly, how do you think He feels about our less-than-our-best offerings we may offer today? Somehow, I rather suspect that He probably doesn't care for them too much either (said tongue-in-cheek). Of course, He would feel the same strong emotions about what we do today as He did toward what the Israelites offered then.

What, then, do we need to take away from this message of warning? God sees our hearts. He knows if what we bring to Him, both in church and in our personal worship times on our own, is really our best, from our hearts, completely honest before Him or if we're simply going through the motions, just bringing whatever we feel like at the moment, even trying to fake what we do so others around us think better of us. God desires honest worship, worship from our hearts offered both in spirit and in truth, that comes from deep within us, from the core of who we are. And we're not just talking about worship as we think of it happening in church on Sunday. God's looking at our motivation behind everything we do. You see, the Israelites had to go to the Temple for their official acts of worship, since the Temple was seen as the dwelling place of God. We, on the other hand, who have been indwelled by the Holy Spirit, live every moment of our lives in the presence of God since we have been called His temples. If God focused on the offerings being brought to the Temple in Jerusalem, how much more does He look at everything we do as an act of offering, since everything we do is in His presence?

If we are His temple, then what kind of offerings are we bringing on a daily basis? Are we giving God our best, or are we doing the bare minimums, if that? Do we put on airs when around others so they think us better or closer to God than we are then revert to our "normal" selves when we think no one is around? And, what is our motivation for what we do? Is it God-centered or self-centered? I know we'll not live perfect lives while on earth, but we can live God-centered lives. Do we live saying the right things and being in the right places at the right times and have lost the real meaning of why we do those things, or do we live each day seeking to have a fresh encounter with the God Who redeemed us? Do we live doing whatever we want, or do we live to do what God desires us to do -- to live lives of worship, giving praise and glory to Him, sharing Him with the world around us, seeking to not only draw closer to Him ourselves, but to seek out and help others to become fully devoted followers of Jesus as well? That's the life God desires us to live, and to do anything less is to become guilty of the same sins the Israelites were guilty of 2,400 years ago, sins that offended the God of heaven and brought promises of condemnation and the title of hypocrite placed on them.

I don't know about you, but I have no desire to have the God of the Universe call me a hypocrite. Wait until you read the next few verses in chapter 2. If you thought this was harsh, the next few verses should have you quaking in your boots.

Offer true, authentic acts of worship to God today, tomorrow, and every day of your life. If condemnation is given to hypocrites, just imagine how much more the blessing and grace given for authentic worship.

Be blessed, and remember: Pray for the people in your wallet today.

Malachi talks about worship? I thought it was all about tithes and offerings.

Malachi was given a burdensome revelation from God. His message is heavy, not light, and carries many warnings of impending punishment or, even worse, the message that God not only isn’t pleased with the people, He’s not going to meet with or reside with them anymore. The statement that He would just as soon have the Temple doors closed so they can’t enter implies that when they do enter, He won’t be there to answer or respond. The people have offended God greatly, and He’s not going to take it anymore.

Malachi begins with the ominous statement that this revelation is a heavy burden (in the Hebrew the word for revelation means "burden"). Malachi, whose name means “My messenger,” was going to carry a message of warning and a direct accusation against the people and the priests of Israel. The people of Israel have been struggling under oppression, and while they’ve been allowed back into their homeland, many still feel as if God doesn’t care about them. If He doesn’t care about them, why should they care about Him? Malachi begins his message by answering the question, “Does God really love us?” God’s response is that He chose them and rejected Esau (Edom). Even though Edom thinks she will rebuild and become great again, God reminds the people that He’s pronounced judgment on Edom and won’t allow them to rebuild, but will ultimately overthrow them. God will do this so Israel and the world) will be able to look on it and know that He is God, He is in control, and that His name will be praised, even beyond the borders of Israel. In other words, God desires for all men to know His fame, and He wants His people to know His love and care for them.

Having given proof that God still loves them, Malachi drops right into the indictment against the people. It’s natural for a son to respect his father, yet the people of Israel have no respect or honor for God. The people don’t understand this, since they still are going through all the motions of the sacrifices they are to offer to God for His good pleasure. However, God hates their offerings. Why? Because they aren’t bringing Him their best. They’re bringing Him whatever they feel like bringing – usually the sick and the damaged – feeling that since they at least are offering something that God must be pleased. God responds in anger that they have no respect for Him anymore, that they are bringing to Him offerings that they wouldn’t even dare to give to a ruler or someone in authority. Why would they give God something worse than they would give each other and still expect God to accept what they offered and be happy with it? God had reached the point where He says that they may as well close the doors of the temple and stop the sacrifices they’re offering because He won’t be there to accept them – since they’re an offense to Him as it is. God desires the worship and praise of all people, and he wants it to be authentic, from the heart worship, not a going through the motions so I’ll bring whatever I feel like bringing worship (which isn’t God-worship at all but self-worship).

It gets worse from there. Not only do they not offer their best for sacrifices, they disrespect even the very act of the sacrifice, turning up their noses at it, considering it common or profane. God calls their attitude and actions “tiresome.” Why should He accept blemished and worthless sacrifices offered by people who don’t even care what they bring to Him? How authentic is that kind of offering of worship? God calls the people hypocrites for going through the motions without having the right heart for what they are doing. Should they continue, God promises great punishment and condemnation for their actions. Why? Because He is the greatest King, and He will have His name be awesome among the nations.

What are the implications for us today? This heavy burden was saved for us to read and learn from for a reason, so how would this apply to us today? It starts with this question: “What kind of offering of worship to we bring to our God on a daily or weekly basis?” When we gather together on a Sunday morning, are we really bringing our best for our God, or do we come out of obligation? Do we see times of corporate worship as incredible opportunities to worship together the God Who loves us, or is it so common to us that we go through the motions with ease, focus more on our conversations with friends than our conversations with God, or even have no problem skipping out or leaving for any reason? God is basically telling us in this message that if we aren’t going to bring Him the best of what we have, if we don’t come to worship having Him as the sole object of our worship and our reason for being there, we might as well stay home. God looks for and will meet and bless the people who seek Him first and offer Him proper offerings of worship and praise, but will refuse to meet with people who are there out of obligation, who don’t bring their best but choose to turn up their noses, as it were, to the true, authentic offerings being offered. What does the way we live our lives the rest of the week say about whether our offerings of worship are authentic or not? God is looking at the total package, not just at what happens during an hour and a half on a Sunday morning. And remember, He is looking at our hearts and our motivations, not just at our outward actions. He knows whether we’re being real or not, whether it’s authentic or merely going through the motions.

God is looking for people who will worship Him in spirit and in truth. Those whose worship isn’t in spirit or in truth He labels hypocrites and promises condemnation if they don’t repent and return to authentically worshiping Him. Those whose worship is real, however, He showers down His love and blessing. God wants more than anything for His name to be the greatest and the most worshiped in all the world. He takes it very seriously, and we have been created to give Him that praise and honor. Not doing so robs Him of that honor and that glory, and in the coming chapters Malachi delivers even weightier messages concerning robbing God and its consequences.