We Have Opportunity

"You also say, 'Oh, what a weariness!' and you sneer at it," says the LORD of hosts. "And you bring the stolen, the lame, and the sick; thus you bring an offering! Should I accept this from your hand?" says the LORD."

Malachi 1:13

Through the prophet Malachi, God confronted His people with their approach to keeping His law and statues.  They viewed the keeping of feasts and offerings a boring chore, and their slack effort evident before God should have been obvious to them as well.  Instead of selecting the first and best of their flock, they brought Him stolen and sickly animals their king would have refused with offence.  Their sneers of disdain were seen by God, and their offerings were sin.

We are richly blessed to live in this day of grace, having had the Gospel revealed to us with the love of Jesus Christ.  Over the years I have heard many exclaim when reading the Law, "I'm so glad not to live under the Law and have to keep all those commands.  What a pain!"  This attitude of gratitude may mask disdain and not be far from those in the day of Malachi.  Instead of viewing the Law as a weary task man was obliged to follow, better to see it as the gracious provision of God to allow Him to dwell in their midst and for them to have fellowship with Him.  The Law was not given for man to earn favour or an audience with God but provided a means for God to bless His people because they found favour in His sight.

How things would have been different if the Jews in the day of Malachi loved and served God only and valued His presence, guidance and wisdom more than gold!  They were afforded a privilege others could only long for, for God committed His precepts to His chosen people.  It was not a chore meant to weary them but and opportunity to commune with Him:  to praise, glorify and honour Him, to avoid sin and do what pleased Him.  David sung in Psalm 5:3-4, "My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up. ⁴ For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness, nor shall evil dwell with You."  Sacrifices and offerings provided a covering from sin that allowed those corrupted by sin to find atonement and acceptance by the God who dwelt among them.  Their wickedness was revealed in their weariness in offering their best to the LORD.

God is worthy of all our sacrifices and that we freely offer ourselves, having been purchased by the blood of Jesus as it is written in Romans 12:1:  "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service."  It is only by God's grace and mercy we have been saved and can offer ourselves acceptably before Him.  We are called to sow to the Spirit rather than the flesh, and Paul exhorted believers in Galatians 6:9-10, "And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. ¹⁰ Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith."  Let us be those who wholeheartedly offer ourselves to the LORD because He is worthy, doing good to all.  This is an offering in which He is well pleased.