- Joined
- Oct 26, 2007
- Messages
- 12,539
You say, 'It's too hard to serve the LORD,' and you turn up your noses at my commands," says the LORD of Heaven's Armies. "Think of it! Animals that are stolen and crippled and sick are being presented as offerings! Should I accept from you such offerings as these?" asks the LORD. Malachi 1:13 NLT
It’s just for church!” Have you ever heard a musician, small group leader, or Sunday school teacher say this?
Since God doesn’t directly challenge your offerings or good works, it’s easy to let your efforts slide. It’s easy to accept the idea that God wouldn’t want to make serving Him more difficult than it needs to be. But that’s not how God made humanity. He made people to enjoy giving their best.
Athletes know their best games are the ones where they “left it all on the field.” Musicians know their best performances are the ones in which they were fully engaged. Whenever believers give less effort, they disengage from the way they were designed and dishonor the One who made them.
Whenever you say, “It’s just for church,” and give God less than your best, He offers a challenge similar to the one He proposed in Malachi: “’Test me in this,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it’” (Malachi 3:10).
Prayer: Father, help me leave it all on the field for You today!
It’s just for church!” Have you ever heard a musician, small group leader, or Sunday school teacher say this?
Since God doesn’t directly challenge your offerings or good works, it’s easy to let your efforts slide. It’s easy to accept the idea that God wouldn’t want to make serving Him more difficult than it needs to be. But that’s not how God made humanity. He made people to enjoy giving their best.
Athletes know their best games are the ones where they “left it all on the field.” Musicians know their best performances are the ones in which they were fully engaged. Whenever believers give less effort, they disengage from the way they were designed and dishonor the One who made them.
Whenever you say, “It’s just for church,” and give God less than your best, He offers a challenge similar to the one He proposed in Malachi: “’Test me in this,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it’” (Malachi 3:10).
Prayer: Father, help me leave it all on the field for You today!
