Blind, Lame and Diseased Sacrifices

When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice lame or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?” says the Lord Almighty.

Malachi 1:8

There was a problem with Judah's worship. The law gave very specific instructions for not only what kinds of animals but also what quality of animals were to be offered up to the Lord. Only animals of the highest quality... without blemish or defect were to be sacrificed to God. But Judah had been offering blind, lame and diseased animals. They were supposed to be sacrificing their best and they had been sacrificing their worst animals to God... animals that even their Persian governor wouldn’t have accepted.

This kind of worship was unacceptable to the Lord. In fact, verse 10 tells us that God would rather they have locked the temple doors and not worshipped Him at all, than bring these offensive offerings to Him.

We don’t sacrifice animals to the Lord anymore. But we do bring offerings of our own: tithes and worship and service. Let’s look at each in turn?

First, tithes. Whatever amount you give, do you give sacrificially, generously and cheerfully? Or do you give begrudgingly... not out of gratitude or love but because you feel like you have to? That kind of giving shows contempt for God’s name. It isn’t about the amount, but about the sacrifice and the heart with which your gift is given. (Mark 12:41-44)

Next, what about your worship? Do you worship in such a way that exalts the Lord and brings glory to His name OR when you worship do you look bored, unengaged and unimpressed with the God you are singing about? When people see you worship, does it hurt or help God’s reputation?

Lastly, do you serve the Lord through church or parachurch ministries? When you serve, is your service well-prepared, focused on others and glorifying to God? Or is it lazy? Do you give minimal effort, show up late, and often even miss your commitments? Or perhaps its self-serving? You pretend to serve the Lord but in reality, your motive is to gain attention and feel important. 

Make sure that the offerings you bring to the Lord are worthy of His name. Make sure you bring your best, so that His name might be great among the nations (Malachi 1:11) and so He might be pleased to accept yoru offering.