- Malachi 1:6 - A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the Lord of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?
- Malachi 1:14 - But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the Lord of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.
- Psalm 119:175 - Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgments help me.
The Lord wants us to worship Him with all our hearts every day of the week. The book of the prophet Malachi was written about a century after the people of Israel returned from the Babylonian exile and restored Jerusalem and the temple. Although a spiritual awakening took place in the days of Nehemiah, the people had lost their former zeal, and worship had become formal. Instead of offering perfect animals as required by the Law, they brought sick, blind, and lame animals to God. The people and priests had made worship such a habit that they did not even see that what they were doing was wrong. This danger exists today as well. As daily cares and busyness increase, we may devote less time to prayer, reading the Holy Scriptures, and spending time with God. Some may think that Sunday worship is sufficient. But worship is not limited to one day a week. Our devotion to Christ should be visible in our lives all week long. God calls us to return to Him. He wants not just formal worship, but for us to be devoted to Him with all our hearts. This is the kind of worship the Lord accepts.
Reflection
How can you determine if your worship today is 'formal' or 'sincere'?
