Thought for February 22

 History:

• 1349: Jews expelled from Zurich
• 1819: Adams-Onis Treaty cedes Florida to the US
• 1854: First meeting of the Republican Party
• 1876: Johns Hopkins University opens
• 1879: Frank W. Woolworth opens first 5&dime store--it fails
• 1893: First Iron Bowl--Auburn beats Alabama
• 1935: "The Little Colonel" premiers--first inter-racial dance in the movies--Shirley Temple and Bill Robinson on the stairs
• 1936: Sonja Henie wins her 10th straight world figure skating title
• 1959: First Daytona 500-- Lee Petty wins in a contested finish
• 1978: 2 propane tankers explode in Waverly Tennessee killing 15
• 1980: Miracle on Ice--Lake Placid
• Born: George Washington, Robert Baden-Powell [scouting], Edna St. Vincent Millay, Charlie Finley, Marni Nixon [dubbed the singing for Audrey Hepburn in "My Fair Lady," Natalie Wood in "West Side Story," and Deborah Kerr in "The King and I"], Ted Kennedy, Sparky Anderson, Tommy Aaron, Oliver ["Jean" and "Good morning Starshine"], Julius Erving, Bill Frist, Amy Alcott, Steve Irwin, Vijay Singh, Drew Barrymore
• Died: Amerigo Vespucci, Andy Warhol, Grandpa Jones, Wesley Clark, Nanette Fabray

Thought:

Back in Malachi this morning. Reading 1:6-14. Here is some truth that scares me. When you offer a defiled sacrifice to God, God sees it as a rejection and thinks you despise Him. 

The context: The priests were swindlers [1:14]. They were taking the good animals that the people brought and substituting lame, sick and blemished animals. Keeping the good for themselves and offering the lame to God. 

God's reaction: Those sacrifices:

• Dishonor My name [1:6]. 
• Show no respect [1:6
• Are evil [1:8]
• Would not be given to those you love and respect. [1:8]
• Profane My name [1:12]
• Not pleasing and unacceptable [1:10]

God's proclamation: My name will be great among the nations [1:11]; I am King, the Lord of Hosts. [1:14]

Application: What does the Lord say about Larry's sacrifices? Does He say that sacrifice dishonors my name, shows no respect for Me, is evil and unacceptable? I don't bring animals, but I don't think God is even talking about just my tithes and offerings. Romans 12:1-2 commands me to present my body as a living and holy sacrifice, a transformed body, renewed and not conformed to the world. A living sacrifice that proves to the world that which is good and acceptable and perfect to God. I need to let that soak in: 

• I am not to be conformed to the world but be transformed by the Holy Spirit constantly renewing my thoughts and my actions. I am to be different--living [really living] and holy. 
• My transformation is to be evidence of what God says is good and acceptable and perfect. We talk about being witnesses. A witness presents the truth--evidence. What kind of evidence of God's will and plan am I? 
• This is my reasonable sacrifice and worship. Anything less is a swindle, a dishonor, a disrespect, a profanity, unacceptable. 

I have a lot to do to get my sacrifice in order. Praise God I do not have to do it in my own strength. 

Blessings

Larry