Name Great Among Nations - Malachi 1:6-14

There is a slogan from a well-known commercial for greeting cards which reads, "When you care enough to send the very best."  The creator of this catchy phrase must have been motivated after reading Malachi 1:6-14 as the parallel is quite remarkable.  Think about it, when searching for a greeting card for a special occasion or a special individual, do you just grab any card?  How often have you found yourself lost in time while reading the one-liners or sentimental verses in your quest for the perfect greeting card?

At first read, I feel God is addressing those who worship him in the synagogue and try to cheat Him by providing offerings from their cast-offs.  As usual when reading from the Bible there is also a parallel for Christians today who don't give their best.  Worship is something we do all day long.  Worship is how I act in public - because I know people are watching.  The manner in which I honor God by my behavior is a form of worship.

Whether in the work-place, the market-place or the place of worship, God demands and deserves the best we have to offer. Only the very best should I put out there for all the world to see.  "When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice lame or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?” says the LORD Almighty." (Malachi 6:8)


Read the Malachi 1:6-14 text here.  Listen to the reading here.