Devotional Deterioration

Malachi 1:13 KJV 1900

Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! And ye have snuffed at it, saith the Lord of hosts; And ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; Thus ye brought an offering: Should I accept this of your hand? saith the Lord.

Introduction

The spiritual decline in the days of the prophet Malachi was very great. It certainly describes spiritual decline which is evident in our time.

The Deteriorating Heart

“What weariness is it.”

The people were not interested in the things of God.

It was boring to them and so the complaint of “weariness.”

They were tired of serving God. Whether it was the sacrifice or the feasts it was no longer exciting.

What changed?

Was it the required sacrifice or the required feast? Or had they changed?

Was this “weariness” a reflection of the sacrifice and feast and duties of the Temple?

This reflected a spiritual heart problem which is very condemning.

The Deteriorating Mind

“Ye have snuffed at it.”

They had begun to question the importance of devotion to the things of God.

Intellectually they began devaluing spiritual exercise.

They began to see little value in exercise of sacrifice, feast and holy days etc....

Did the sacrifices, feast, and observance of sabbath etc.... lose their value? Or had they lost the value of these things?

This reflected a spiritual thinking problem

The Deteriorating Result

“Ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering; should I accept this of your hand?”

The offerings, feasts, and worship began to reflect their heart and their mind… they began using the unblemished (which belonged to God) for themselves and God began to receive whatever they had left.

Did they no longer have the necessary sacrifice?

Did they no longer have time for the feast?

Did the Sabbath cease to exist?

Or

Did their offering say anything about their spiritual condition?

The Devotional Significance

Here are some questions to ask yourself.

Have you begun to feel like spiritual things are boring?

Are you tired of serving God?

Have you started asking yourself if you have to value worshipping God? or Is it enough to just value God?

Is their any value in Church, Prayer, Bible Reading, Witnessing or Giving?

What has changed in your life?

Do you have more or less time now than you had a year or two years or whenever the last time you were serving and worshipping God like you should?

Do you no longer have time for Church on Sunday Morning, Sunday Night, or Wednesday Night?

Do you no longer have a responsibility to witness?

Do you no longer need to read your Bible or Pray?

Do you have less money now than the last time that you were giving faithfully?

Are you giving God the best of you?