“My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to me, because my name will be great among the nations,” says the Lord Almighty.” – Malachi 1:11
The above is the theme for year 2017 at In His Grip. It entails the heart of God and what He is conveying to us. The key element in this discussion is “Burnt Offering” which has 2 major characteristics.
- A burnt offering is unique in that everything is for the Lord and nothing comes back to the person offering it. This signifies that everything that is ours should be for God. Burnt offering here symbolizes the worship we submit to God. We should not expect anything back in return no recognition or our glory.
- The offering has to be pure, without any blemish. Whatever we offer to God should be pure and of the highest priority.
The following is an excerpt from Ravi Zacharias’ sermon titled “Worship: A clue to meaning in life” –
Most people think there are some that do not have any questions. We go through our life always raising questions. The why questions are always very irritating, and they never end. The following issues were raised by the prophets of the Old Testament. Why do you cause me to look at injustices asked Habakkuk? How long must I ask you these things and you will not answer?
In the last book of the Old Testament, Malachi, God is making some statements and his people are asking questions. Ravi Zacharias wants to bring to you the questions that they asked that were absolutely unjustifiable and God’s response was fascinating.
The amazing thing about the book of Malachi is out of 55 verses and 53 include God as the first person or the second person. This book is a marvelous book on Worship in a subtle way. If we can grasp the essence of the book it can transform us. While he seeks, and saves that which is lost what he seeks in and from us is the pristine form of worship, outwardly in truth and inwardly in spirit.
“I have loved you” says the Lord. “But you ask, “How have you loved us?” – Malachi 1:2
Thousand years have gone by since the Exodus and forty years wandering in the wilderness. God says “I took you that long road so you could see what is in your hearts”. He could have taken them in a short 6 weeks and brought them to the Promised Land. Instead he allowed them to wander because one of the things he wanted them to know was how derelict and depraved their hearts were. He caused them to hunger so they would know that man would not live by bread alone and after all these years of wandering their shoes did not wear out and after all the struggles he provided for them. He wanted them to learn humility, spirituality and faith.
“Now thousand years have gone by and you ask me how I have loved you.” He answers in the following way…
“A son honors his father and a slave his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?” says the Lord Almighty. “It is you priests who show contempt for my name. But you ask, ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’ By offering defiled food on my altar. But you ask, ‘How have we defiled you?’ By saying that the Lord’s Table is contemptible.” – Malachi 1:6-7
Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would not light useless fires on my altar! I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord Almighty, “and I will accept no offering from your hands.” – Malachi 1:10
“You have spoken arrogantly against me,” says the Lord. “Yet you ask, ‘What have we said against you?’ “You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What do we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the Lord Almighty? 15 But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly, evildoers prosper, and even when they put God to the test, they get away with it.’” – Malachi 3:13-14
So…
How are we to Worship?
- We have to worship God with our emotions.
- We have to worship God with reverence.
- We have to worship with surrender and sacrifice. Give God your best.
- We have to worship with purity of heart. You would worship me with purity of heart and not for show. It is important how we are worshiping God in private and not in public.
You will never find fulfilment until you have found the reality and purity of worship.
Please watch the following videos to get the full sermon from Ravi Zacharias.
- Episode 1 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?),
- Episode 2 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?)
Things to do: Read the book of Malachi as many times as possible. Let God speak to us through the book of Malachi.