Are you giving your BEST or LESS to the ONE who deserves the MOST?

Now that's a big question isn't it?

As I was reading through the book of Malachi this morning, that very question popped into my head. Perhaps God was speaking to me personally, or perhaps it's a question that all of us should ask ourselves from time to time.  It's GOOD to examine our relationship with God on a regular basis, isn't it?

In the book of Malachi God accused his people of not honoring him and of despising his name...

A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master:

if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the Lord of hosts unto you,

O priests, that despise my name. 

And ye say, wherein have we despised thy name?

                                           Malachi 1:6

by (and I paraphrase)...You offer impure bread on my altar. It's watered down with no leaven and mixed with garbage. You offer blind, lame and sick sacrifices to me.  Would you give that junk to the governor and would he accept it and give respect to you for it.  Then why would you expect me, the almighty God, one greater than your governor, to accept what you are offering, when you have better things to offer me? I know you have better because I gave them to you. 

He goes on to say...you close the doors to the church house or just don't go to services because you don't want to be inconvenienced. You neglect praying or kindling a fire on my altar because you just don't "feel" like it and you say that church is just too much work.  It's a bother and you're weary with it!   

Plus, you are robbing God.  You withhold your goods from me. The very goods that I gave you.

Wow, that's some pretty strong talk from the almighty to his people!  Yet while I was reading through this, the Lord questioned me about the offerings and sacrifices I bring to him and if they are my best.  Now I will say that I do pay my tithes and give into the offering faithfully, but that's not the areas the Lord was questioning me about.  Giving and making sacrifice to the Lord involves more than just money, much more.  

They involve giving of our time, efforts, talents and substance; and, giving the best of those things. 

Do I give 100% of my efforts when it comes to praise, worship, prayer and bible study or do I give blind, lame and sick excuses of why I don't or can't?  Is attending services still special, exciting and important to me or have I become weary and tired of church and of God? 

Admittedly I have some work to do in some of these areas.  How about you?

Are you giving your BEST or LESS to the ONE who deserves the MOST?

    

I CAN RUN THROUGH A TROOP...

In the early hours of the morning after being ill for the past two days and having woke up with some heavy things on my mind, I began to pray and ask the Lord for help.  He answered by putting this chorus in my heart...A chorus I had not even heard in years...

I can run through a troop and leap over a wall

Hallelujah, Hallelujah

He's my sword and my shield, He gives power to all

Hallelujah, Hallelujah

He's my rock and my salvation

There is now no condemnation

I can run through a troop and leap over a wall

Hallelujah, Hallelujah

I thought, Lord I hardly feel like running through a troop or leaping over a wall with as sick as I have been. But you know what? After letting the words of that chorus run through my mind a few times I suddenly felt better. My mind was clear, I was able to rest and my faith in the Almighty was strengthened. 

It's such a simple chorus but with very powerful words.  Some of which were taken from Psalm 18 (A good read, in case you were looking for some words of encouragement). It's a reminder that as long as the Almighty is captain, we do have the strength and the power to stay our course and fight the good fight of faith. With Him we have the strength and stamina to ward off anything the enemy tries to throw at us.  Even illness!
  

So this morning I feel as if I can run through a troop and leap over a wall...HALLELUJAH!!!, and I say...Thank you Jesus!  You are so very good.  My trust and my faith is forever in you.

O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is GOOD:
for His Mercy endureth for ever.

                                     Psalm 107:1

THE WHOLE DUTY OF MAN...

It has been a question asked throughout the ages. "Why am I here, what IS my purpose in life?"  It seems that every man, woman and child has had that very question go through their mind at some point or another.  I have asked myself that question a time or two and there have even been books written in an attempt to answer it.  Yes, inquiring minds really do want to know,

What is the purpose of life?  

I discovered a while back that the Holy Bible has the answer.  It is found in the book of Ecclesiastes which was written by King Solomon, the guy to whom God gave more wisdom and knowledge to than any other man to this day.

Now Solomon, like all of us, wanted to know the answer to life's most intriguing question as well so he made it his life's purpose to find the answer.  He studied every aspect of human life to find out that ALL was vanity and vexation of spirit.  In other words he discovered that it's all pointless...well, except for this ONE thing...

He says...

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:

Fear God, and keep his commandments:

for THIS is the whole duty of man.
                                  Ecclesiastes 12:13


Because...as Solomon goes onto say...


For God shall bring EVERY work into judgment, 
with every secret thing,
whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
                                  Ecclesiastes 12:14

So there you have it, the answer to..."What is the purpose of life?"

Solomon discovered that there is only ONE thing in this life that is truly important and necessary and that is to Fear God and keep His commandments.  Nothing else matters.

It doesn't matter how much money you have, or don't have.  It doesn't matter if you're pretty, ugly, thin or fat.  It doesn't matter if you're healthy or have one foot in the grave.  It doesn't matter what type of job you have or whether you stay at home.  It doesn't matter what kind of car you drive or if you ride a bike.  It doesn't matter where you live or who you were born to.  The ONLY thing that really matters is YOUR relationship with the Almighty God.  It is the whole duty of man to make sure his relationship with The Almighty is a good one!

So I ask you this question today...How is YOUR relationship with the God who gave you life? Are you in good standing with him?  Answer wisely...you will be graded.