“You defile them by saying the altar of the LORD deserves no respect. When you give blind animals as sacrifices, isn’t that wrong? And isn’t it wrong to offer animals that are crippled and diseased? Try giving gifts like that to your governor, and see how pleased he is!” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.
“Go ahead, beg God to be merciful to you! But when you bring that kind of offering, why should he show you any favor at all?” asks the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.
“How I wish one of you would shut the Temple doors so that these worthless sacrifices could not be offered! I am not pleased with you,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, “and I will not accept your offerings. But my name is honored by people of other nations from morning till night. All around the world they offer sweet incense and pure offerings in honor of my name. For my name is great among the nations,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.
“But you dishonor my name with your actions. By bringing contemptible food, you are saying it’s all right to defile the Lord’s table. 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.
“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 of Heaven’s Armies, “and my name is feared among the nations!" Malachi 1:7-14 (NLT)
It never feels good to be disrespected, especially when you're someone who gives their best. No one gives better than God, or has more right to be upset when disrespected. However, we don't often think about God being upset, do we? We tend to focus heavily on our emotions and neglect to remember that God has emotions, too.
In Malachi 1:6-14, God lays into Israel heavily about their disrespect toward Him. Before you read this passage, please take a moment to read it through a new lens. Text about animal sacrifices most likely causes you to disengage, so focus on what God reveals about Himself as you read.
We can observe that God is very upset by how many times He mentions their defiled sacrifices. He doesn't just voice His disappointment and move on. He enhances it with questions and comparisons. He sincerely wants them to recognize that what they have been doing communicates disrespect. I believe God shares His displeasure to bring about repentance because God wants their relationship to flourish. It sickens Him that their relationship has become only religious and devoid of heart.
The Israelites were offering their sacrifices, but they became lazy with it. We must avoid being lazy as well. Serving, attending church, worshipping, and fellowshipping mean nothing unless our hearts are sincere. Let this reminder encourage us to keep our devotion times and Bible studies intentional and not something to check off a list. We must desire to include God in every part of each day.
We were created to do life with God. Keeping God in a corner of our daily tasks is not what He intended for us. He is meant to be the center of our lives; the core of all we do. When we don't include God in the center of our lives and all our daily tasks, we present Him with defiled sacrifices, which He is not impressed with or fooled by.
"People may be pure in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their motives. Commit your actions to the LORD, and your plans will succeed" (Psalms 16:2-3, NLT).
Daily Challenge:
Is there something you're faking your way through or going through the motions? Bring it to the Lord and ask Him to redirect your heart. God loves you more than anyone else in this life, which is why He gets so upset when we live in a way that disrespects Him. God is faithful to forgive. So let's return to Him daily. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9, NIV).
Let's pray:
Dear Lord, please help me desire you more than anything else in this world. Help me realize that without you, all of my endeavors mean nothing. Lord, without you, my works have no purpose and bear no fruit. Help me surrender my desires to you and replace them with your desires for me, dear Lord. Don’t let my spiritual disciplines become religious and devoid of heart. I ask this all in Jesus’ name, amen.
Today’s devotional was an excerpt from my book, Return to Me. A devotional through the book of Malachi—written for those who are ready to stop drifting and start returning to the God who never left.
Photo Credit: ©Reza Shayestehpour/Unsplash
Vanessa Luu is a wife, mother, and faith-based writer. She speaks and writes to believers to encourage them to live authentically with God.
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Originally published Tuesday, 17 June 2025.
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