06-23-25 part 1: Offering God the Best: A Wake-Up Call from Malachi

Section One

The message begins with a sobering truth from Malachi 1:9–11, reminding believers that we must not approach God with casual, leftover offerings. The people in Malachi's time were offering injured, crippled, and defective animals—essentially giving God what they didn’t want. God’s response was strong and clear: He was not pleased. The Lord even expressed a desire that someone would shut the temple doors rather than allow such worthless sacrifices. The challenge is not about the specific value of the offering, but about the heart behind it. Sacrifice must cost something—it must be genuine and from the depths of our gratitude.

Section Two

The heart of giving is not in the dollar amount but in the motive. When people prioritize themselves—spending abundantly on entertainment and luxuries while giving God only what remains—it shows a lack of reverence. The Lord emphasized that He is honored among other nations who were not even His chosen people. He is deeply grieved when His own people, whom He has poured blessings into, dishonor Him with their indifference. This is not a question of money or percentages, but of passion and position—God should be first, not last.

Section Three

There is a tragic reality in this message: the Lord is being more honored by those outside the covenant community than within it. This is likened to a father feeling heartbroken because his children, despite all his sacrifices, are ungrateful. The statement that some churches today would do better to shut their doors if they are not truly honoring Jesus is cutting but pointed. Not every assembly that calls itself a church actually reflects Christ. The key issue is whether the sacrifices, worship, and service given are sincere, pure, and meaningful—not routine, lifeless, or institutional.

Section Four

As the message concludes, the focus turns inward. The challenge is personal: are we offering God our best—our sweetest and purest? Are we giving our time, treasure, and talent with joy and reverence, or just going through the motions? Like Cain and Abel, God distinguishes between offerings given from a sense of duty versus those given from heartfelt devotion. The call is to examine our attitude and make sure we are giving God first place in all things. The prayer that closes this section seeks to love God with the fullness of our being and offer Him praise and thanksgiving daily, sincerely acknowledging His greatness and grace.