Giving Your Very Best

Scripture Reading - Mal. 1:8-10 "And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice , is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick , is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts. And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means: will he regard your persons? saith the LORD of hosts. Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand."

I am amazed by the potential I see in people. But, the word potential usually isn't a good thing to hear. The most common way that I hear it, is when someone tells a person, "You have so much potential." When you hear those words, it usually means that, while you could do better, you are now not living up to what you could do. The sad things is, many people never reach the level they could have attained by just putting forth their full effort. There are several things that cause this lack of effort. One is a fear of failure. Many people would rather not try, than to try and fail. Another reason for lack of effort is just down right laziness. If it doesn't come easy, I am not willing to work at it, is the thought process for others. If I have learned anything about people in my years, it is that if given a chance they will for the most part take the easy way out. The few people that go the extra mile and always give full effort are easy to spot. They are usually the most effective and successful at anything they do.

In today's scripture reading we see that the priest's in Malachi's day were offering less their best to God. They were offering the blind, lame, and sick animals to God, while they kept the best for themselves. It is a practice that God called evil. These priest's were satisfying their conscience by offering the animals, but they were holding back on God. I wonder if we take a look at our service to the Lord, are we not doing the same thing? We get the attitude that God understands, He knows I am weak. He is a forgiving God. We will go to church on Sunday. We will put in a little money in the offering plate. Heck, we might even read a few Bible verses this week, if we have time. I'll ask you and myself the question, "Is this the best we can do?" You and I know the answer to that question. We know if we are giving full effort in our service to God. What is a greater fact though is the fact that God knows also. There is no fooling Him. He is worthy of our very best in everything. I am a sports fanatic. One thing I always appreciate is when a team or player, win or lose, plays with full effort. To me it is the greatest thing to watch in sports, a person who gives all the effort they can give. Why don't we expend that same effort and desire toward God is beyond me. He is the Life, the Truth, and the Way. Your time and effort could not be spent in a more important and rewarding way.

Be Blessed and Live in the NOW