Offering Our Best To The Lord
“And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and the sick, is it not evil? Offer it then to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you favorably?” Says the Lord of hosts. - Malachi 1:8
“And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and the sick, is it not evil? Offer it then to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you favorably?” Says the Lord of hosts. - Malachi 1:8
“For from the rising of the sun, even to it’s going down. My name shall be great among the gentiles; In every place incense shall be offered to My name, and a pure offering; For My name shall be great among the nations,” says the Lord of hosts. - Malachi 1:11
For I am a great King,” says the Lord of hosts, “And My name is to be feared among the nations.” - Malachi 1:14
I was thinking about how when Jesus comes back to reign over us it will not be hard to do all kinds of good work for Him to try and please Him and win His favor and blessing. He will be visible to all and will be the One everyone knows is in charge and the One we should be serving with all our energy. It will be considered the most sensible way to live and will find acceptance with all men because it is no secret that He is now King, and having His favor is the smartest way to live. But what about right now? Jesus is not looking for friends who only want to seek out His friendship now that they can see that it makes sense to do so. He is looking right now for true friends who will gladly stand with Him in the humiliation that His Father has allowed to be upon Him in order to test men’s hearts. He is looking for those who will stand with Him in the face of all the world saying that it is foolish to follow after Him and live like He tells them to. He is looking for those who love Him when it is not the way to live comfortably or with all the best things now. He is looking for friends who actually love Him no matter what the cost to themselves physically. Did you know that Jesus lead the way in all things and that He was not willing that Peter or any of His other followers who would come after Him, should be killed for His name without He Himself going forth first. He is first and foremost our commander and He has never been afraid to face pain for being obedient to His Father. He has never been afraid to face pain for rescuing us either. He is fearless and rightfully so! Why would He let Peter do something He Himself was unwilling to do? Jesus lead the way! He is our commander! Should we also be afraid to endure pain for His sake?
So as I have been thinking on these things they have filled my heart with fresh desire to serve my Jesus with all my heart! I will be a fool for Him in the eyes of the world and join myself by His side! I’m so proud of Him! He is everything I want to be! I will gladly bear the shame the world heaps on Him and on all who follow Him. And when He comes back to take His place on the throne I want to be a friend He knows is with Him no matter what.
