How can we ensure our worship is sincere, as warned in Malachi 1:7? The Warning in Malachi 1:7 “By presenting defiled food on My altar you say, ‘How have we defiled You?’ When you say, ‘The table of the LORD is contemptible.’” (Malachi 1:7) The Heart Problem Exposed • Israel’s priests offered blemished, second-rate sacrifices. • Their outward ritual concealed an inward disregard for God’s honor. • What God labeled “defiled” was not merely the bread—it was the attitude that treated His table as “contemptible.” Principles for Sincere Worship • Give God the best, not the leftovers (Malachi 1:8,14; Proverbs 3:9). • Worship must flow from love and reverence, not habit (Isaiah 29:13). • Obedience is dearer to God than impressive forms (1 Samuel 15:22). • True worshipers “worship the Father in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23-24). • A living, holy life is the daily sacrifice God desires (Romans 12:1). Practical Steps to Guard Our Hearts 1. Self-Examination – “But a man must examine himself” (1 Corinthians 11:28). – Regularly ask: Am I giving God my best time, attention, and resources? 2. Repent Quickly – “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit” (Psalm 51:17). – Confess coldness or compromise as soon as the Spirit convicts. 3. Prepare Before Gathering – Reconcile with others (Matthew 5:23-24). – Meditate on Scripture and pray for a responsive heart. 4. Engage Fully During Worship – Sing, listen, and pray with focused mind and grateful heart (Colossians 3:16-17). – Let truth shape emotion; let emotion express truth. 5. Live What You Declare – Carry Sunday’s devotion into weekday decisions (James 1:22). – Generosity, purity, and integrity validate the songs we sing. Signs Our Worship Is Becoming Insincere • Routine feels more important than relationship. • We bargain with God instead of surrendering. • Critiquing style eclipses adoring the Savior. • Service becomes self-promotion rather than humble offering. • Sin is excused rather than confessed. Encouraging Outcome of Sincere Worship • God’s name is honored among the nations (Malachi 1:11). • Joy increases as we align with His holiness (Psalm 16:11). • Our witness gains credibility (Philippians 2:15). • Fellowship deepens within the body (Acts 2:46-47). When we honor the Lord with our finest and obey from the heart, we heed Malachi’s warning, and our worship rises as a pleasing aroma to God. |
    |