Living Holy is the Only Way

There are different explanations and experiences of Worship.  It could be because of one’s denominational, cultural, or musical background, but there’s nothing like going to the word seeing and reading the many oracles on this subject.  Worship is obedience and sacrifice to God, but sometimes we can allow a half-heartedness and carelessness to creep into our worship like the people of God did in the book of Malachi.

Offering God any kind of worship and not caring one bit, knowing what kind He desired.  The Law of Moses required they bring animals without blemish, the finest from their flock.  But they kept the finest for themselves and brought to the altar that which showed disrespect for God, who they claimed to honor and worship.  They were offering animals with blemishes for sacrifice.  “Cursed is the cheat who promises to give a fine ram from his flock but then sacrifices a defective one to the Lord.  For I am a great King,” says the LORD Almighty, “and my name is feared among the nations!”  (Malachi 1:14, NLT).

Because God gave His son Jesus as a sacrifice, to die on the cross on a hill called Calvary, shedding His blood for you and me covering our sins, rising from the grave on the third day, today we don’t have to bring animals for our worship.  We can offer a life of holiness, acceptable and pleasing unto Him.  And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God.  Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will accept.  When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask?  (Romans 12:1, NLT).  We are now the offering; it’s our bodies that He wants placed on the altar.

Just like He didn’t want them (Old Covenant) bringing animals with blemishes, He tells us (New Covenant) through the Apostle Peter to be blemish free, holy.  But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God—who chose you to be his children—is holy.  For he himself has said, “You must be holy because I am holy.”  (1 Peter 1:15-16, NLT).  Holiness is what He wants for us.

Scripture of the Day: “God has called us to be holy, not to live impure lives.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:7