MALACHI 3:4

“‘Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old, and as in former years.’”

I sometimes call people I really love “Sweetie.” It is a term of endearment. I don’t ever mean it to be condescending to a person. I have heard it used that way before (you know what I mean). For me, though, it is always used to reflect my love and care for someone.

That idea is reflected in the Hebrew word used in today’s verse for “will be pleasing.” Malachi, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, used the Hebrew word arab. It means to be sweet, pleasant. How did the offerings offered by the priest move from deplorable earlier in chapter 2 to pleasant in chapter 3? Through the purification of those priests in the previous verses. You see, the Lord desires pure gifts. They are pleasing to Him.

APPLICATION

Proverbs 3:24 uses the same word. “When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.” Don’t you like that? And Jeremiah uses it, too. Jeremiah 31:26 says, “At this I awoke and looked, and my sleep had been pleasant to me.” Sweet sleep sounds good, right? But I am getting off track.

Jeremiah uses the same word back in Jeremiah 6:20, but in a negative sense. “‘For what purpose does frankincense come to Me from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable and your sacrifices are not pleasing to Me.’” God demands that our motives be pure when we bring our offerings to Him.

What are our offerings today? We don’t bring lambs and goats anymore. Our offerings are our financial gifts, our time, our energy, our service. When we give anything to the Lord, it is an offering of ourselves. So, what is your purpose for giving your offerings? As you give, ask the Lord to bless those who receive it and pray for the purpose in giving.

Lord, bless what I bring to You. I want my offerings to be a sweet smell in Your nostrils.

If you want to make a gift to my ministry with Every Man A Warrior, you can do that at www.twr.org/carl-willis. Your gift helps us reach more men with the power of the Gospel. This is a great time of the year to bring your end of the year gifts to Him.