When you consider the animal sacrifice system of the Jews, it can be a little distressing to think of an innocent lamb bearing the sin of a sometimes arrogant offender. But, given the law that prescribed animal offerings and God's plan to describe the work of the coming Lamb of God. When we look back at Christ's atonement, we recognize that no one is worthy to earn forgiveness. We should understand that it's not the blemish-free look of our sacrifice that atones for our sin, as much as the repentant attitude of our heart and God' s mercy to forgive us.

It grieves me to think how we as the church of Jesus Christ must sometime appear like that arrogant Pharisee. We act like our religious rituals suffice for appeasing an jealous God who has always demanded holiness and true repentance. Malachi looked at the sacrilegious temple sacrifice system and was equally grieved.

The last book of the Old Testament is probably remembered by most as the one mandating the practice of tithing of one's income. Paul was probably a tither, but he recognized that giving money to church work doesn't appease God. Instead, it's the attitude by which you give and not the degree. (Re:2 Cor 9:7) May we learn the same lesson today.

The true message of Malachi is not a mandate for obligatory giving, but instead one that says, "Don't even light a fire for offering a sacrifice unless you come with a clean heart and pure motive. To put it in terms you understand clearly, "Don't bother asking forgiveness unless you name your sin and are repentant. If this were a math class, our teacher might write an equation this way: "Forgiveness = Confession + Repentance."

We know God keeps up with our prayer because Revelation tells us every one of our petitions are collected in bowls that will one day be poured out as praise to God (Rev 5:8). But I ask you , how many times have you prayed without confessing your named sin? Psalm 66:18 says God won't even hear us if we hold back confession. That being said and Malachi's message applied, it means not every prayer we pray is in our praise bowl. As for me, I sure hope God doesn't keep another bowl of prayer offered up from an useless altar. I'm afraid my useless prayer bowl might be overflowing while my useful prayer not reach the top of the bowl.

With the coming New Year and the traditional plan to make a useful resolution, why not ask God to help us avoid starting a fire on a useless altar next year. Such a petition will no doubt be placed in the "good" bowl, don't you think?

1 Developed from Read the Bible Thru ( Ml. 1:1-2:17 Rv. 21:1-27 Ps. 149:1-9 Pr. 31:10-24 )
2. Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society

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