How can we avoid treating God's table as "contemptible" in our worship today? A warning from Malachi Malachi 1:7, 12 exposes priests who offered blemished sacrifices and then excused themselves: “You are presenting defiled food on My altar… By saying, ‘The table of the LORD is contemptible.’” God’s response (1:10) is stark: “I am not pleased with you… nor will I accept an offering from your hands.” The lesson is timeless: careless worship insults the Lord’s table rather than honoring it. What “God’s table” means for us today • The Lord’s Supper—1 Corinthians 10:21 calls it “the table of the Lord.” • All gathered worship—Hebrews 13:10 speaks of an altar we share in Christ. • Our whole-life sacrifice—Romans 12:1 commands us to present ourselves as “a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.” Heart attitudes that honor the table • Reverence—Ecclesiastes 5:1: “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God.” • Gratitude—Psalm 100:4: “Enter His gates with thanksgiving.” • Repentance—1 Corinthians 11:28: “Each one must examine himself.” • Faith—Hebrews 11:6: “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” • Love—1 John 4:20 warns that unloving hearts contradict true worship. Guarding the quality of our offerings • Give the first and best of time, talent, and treasure, not the leftovers (Proverbs 3:9). • Prepare beforehand—review song lyrics, Scripture texts, and personal hearts so nothing is “blemished.” • Resist performance mentality; focus on pleasing God, not impressing people (Galatians 1:10). • Support excellence—maintain clean, orderly meeting spaces as a visible sign of respect. Practicing biblical order at the Lord’s Supper • Self-examination (1 Corinthians 11:27-29) avoids “eating and drinking judgment.” • Reconciliation—Matthew 5:23-24 prioritizes settling conflicts before bringing an offering. • Proclamation—1 Corinthians 11:26: “For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” The meal must center on Christ’s cross, not mere ritual. • Unity—1 Corinthians 10:17: “Because there is one loaf, we who are many are one body.” Guard against cliques, prejudice, or flaunting wealth (11:21-22). Honoring the body of Christ beyond Sunday • Serve one another with practical love (Galatians 5:13). • Speak words that build up (Ephesians 4:29). • Carry burdens (Galatians 6:2); a compassionate community shows the table is precious, not contemptible. • Live morally pure lives—unrepented sin on Monday contradicts communion on Sunday (1 Peter 1:15-16). Living a lifestyle of honor • Daily devotion—meet with God privately so public worship overflows with authenticity (Mark 1:35). • Continuous gratitude—“Give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). • Mission focus—share the gospel; a church that treasures the table will invite others to it (Luke 14:23). • Hopeful anticipation—Revelation 19:9 points to the future “marriage supper of the Lamb.” Remembering that grand banquet keeps present worship sincere and expectant. When hearts are reverent, offerings are pure, relationships are loving, and lives are holy, God’s table is cherished, not despised—and He is glorified. |
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