“Honorology” II
In my last post, I mentioned - the level of honour you give is determined by the value you perceive, and how if you value something, you would naturally honour it by protecting it, praising it and prioritising it as a first in your life.
I also said it is very easy to dishonour in our actions and speech, and how that can so easily be done towards God and His living Word.
In Malachi 1:6-14, we see a God who is serious about honour and worship. And yet we saw a generation who was offering sacrifices not out of honour or a heart of worship, but out of routine and indifference.
6 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies says to the priests: “A son honors his father, and a servant respects his master. If I am your father and master, where are the honor and respect I deserve? You have shown contempt for my name!
“But you ask, ‘How have we ever shown contempt for your name?’
7 “You have shown contempt by offering defiled sacrifices on my altar.
“Then you ask, ‘How have we defiled the sacrifices?[c]’
“You defile them by saying the altar of the Lord deserves no respect. 8 When you give blind animals as sacrifices, isn’t that wrong? And isn’t it wrong to offer animals that are crippled and diseased? Try giving gifts like that to your governor, and see how pleased he is!” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
9 “Go ahead, beg God to be merciful to you! But when you bring that kind of offering, why should he show you any favor at all?” asks the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
10 “How I wish one of you would shut the Temple doors so that these worthless sacrifices could not be offered! I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “and I will not accept your offerings. 11 But my name is honored[d]by people of other nations from morning till night. All around the world they offer[e] sweet incense and pure offerings in honor of my name. For my name is great among the nations,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
12 “But you dishonor my name with your actions. By bringing contemptible food, you are saying it’s all right to defile the Lord’s table. 13 You say, ‘It’s too hard to serve the Lord,’ and you turn up your noses at my commands,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “Think of it! Animals that are stolen and crippled and sick are being presented as offerings! Should I accept from you such offerings as these?” asks the Lord.
14 “Cursed is the cheat who promises to give a fine ram from his flock but then sacrifices a defective one to the Lord. For I am a great king,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “and my name is feared among the nations!
For a better understanding, the Message version of the Bible, just verses 12 & 13, it speaks plainly - Instead of honoring me, you profane me. You profane me when you say,‘Worship is not important, and what we bring to worship is of no account,’ and when you say, ‘I’m bored—this doesn’t do anything for me.’ You act so superior, sticking your noses in the air—act superior to me, God-of-the-Angel-Armies! And when you do offer something to me, it’s a hand-me-down, or broken, or useless. Do you think I’m going to accept it? This is God speaking to you!
It’s time to do some soul-searching and deliberate about the way we treat our Heavenly Father, our God. Do we give Him the honour He rightfully deserves in all we say and do? Do we fear Him in reverence? Or are we taking for granted the amazing grace He has given to us?
This isn’t about legalism on how punctual you turn up to church on a Sunday, or how often you tithe and how much you give as an offering. It isn’t about what songs we sing and whether we clap or dance. It isn’t about if we sit attentively or not.
Those actions are but an overflow or result of a heart that fears and honours our King. And before we even want to experience God or want Him to move greatly in our lives, we first gotta check our attitude and heart.
My next post would attempt to change your perspective about honour and fear of the Lord. Stay tuned.
