DEVOTION: WITH OR WITHOUT YOU, HIS PURPOSES WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED!
From verse 1 of chapter 1 of the book of Malachi, God portrays Israel’s spiritual condition as being pathetic. He begins with their doubt of His love for them as a nation; then He describes how the priests were dishonoring Him. This is followed by a very sad description of the kind of sacrifices they were offering to the Lord. But, in verse 11, God makes this very surprising declaration:
My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to me, because my name will be great among the nations,” says the Lord Almighty. Malachi 1:11
Read again the verses that precede verse 11.
Now plead with God to be gracious to us. With such offerings from your hands, will he accept you?”—says the Lord Almighty. “Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would not light useless fires on my altar! I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord Almighty, “and I will accept no offering from your hands. Malachi 1:9-10
If the priests had failed in doing what was right in order to proclaim the name of God, how then was His name to be known and worshipped among the nations? Do you see my point here? God had chosen the nation of Israel to make His name known and worshipped among the nations. In this passage however, the Israelites, led by their priests, were doing a very miserable job of making God’s name known among the nations.
Take a look at the verses that follows verse 11.
But you profane it by saying, ‘The Lord’s table is defiled,’ and, ‘Its food is contemptible.’ And you say, ‘What a burden!’ and you sniff at it contemptuously,” says the Lord Almighty. Malachi 1:12-13
You see, what precedes and what follows verse 11 portrays a very pathetic spiritual condition of Israel. Verse 11 declares a better spiritual future in the world where God’s name will be known and worshiped from where the sun rises to where it sets.
So why is God making such a bold declaration of a better future? Why does He have confidence about His name being known and worshipped among the nations? Here is a very simple and yet a very profound answer.
God will always accomplish His purposes with or without us.
In spite of Israel’s failure to proclaim His name to all the nations, God will make His name known to the world. In spite of the failure of the priests to honor God and to offer the right sacrifices to God, He will still make His name known and worshipped among the nations.
As the title of today’s devotion says, “With Or Without You, His Purposes Will Be Accomplished!”
APPLICATION:
1. We need to know that God does not need us to accomplish His purposes. However, He has chosen to use men and women, not because He needs our help, but because He has chosen this as an avenue to bless us, as well as an opportunity for us to get to know Him better.
2. Because of this, none of us should think that we are indispensable before the Lord. If we are not willing to serve Him, God will choose others to take our places. Never think that you or I are the saviors of the world. In other words, do not think that unless God uses you or I His work will not be accomplished. Here are a few examples:
a. Many times instrumentalists in the church have too much pride and want too much respect to the point of almost demanding to be worshipped. Some of these do not even follow the directives of the Pastor. They think they are the saviors of the church. I have bad news for them, “there is only one savior of the world, and Jesus Christ is His name!”
b. Others, because of their experiences in different ministries, demand promotions and a right to do whatever they want. One pastor recently told me that a member visited him in his office and demanded that he appoints him as one of the deacons. When asked why he thinks he should be appointed to this position, he said, “I have been in this church long enough that I now qualify to be a deacon.”
c. Others would not want to step down in a position because they have been serving so long in the same position, even if their productivity has gone down sharply and is negatively affecting the growth of the church. These kinds of people claim a lifetime experience.
3. The flipside of this point is members who do not want to serve God in their church. They do not give tithes and are not active in any ministry. They are called the benchwarmers. They come to church to be fed or entertained.
a. Unfortunately, some of these do this because they do not want the pastor to succeed either because the pastor is not from their tribe, nationality, or race. This is unfortunate because they are missing out on an opportunity to be blessed by God and to get to know Him better through His service.
b. What these benchwarmers will soon discover is that God will send other people from within or without to come an do His work at the church. For those who were blessed financially but have failed to give to God, God will take away their blessings and give to those who are willing to give to God generously.
4. Therefore, each one of us needs to take advantage of the God-given opportunity to serve Him. Because if we do not make use of it, God will not wait and see His work suffer; He will send other people who are excited about an opportunity to serve God through giving or serving in a given ministry.
5. Has God blessed you financially? Are you using this blessing to promote His work? If you are not, be careful, God will take it away and give it to someone else who is a generous giver to the Kingdom of God.
6. Since God’s purposes will be accomplished with or without you, then, the question is not whether God’s purposes will be accomplished, but rather, will you be a part of accomplishing God’s purposes here on earth? Are you part of accomplishing any of God’s purposes now?
Next time you have any hesitation to serve God
Or you have any reservation about serving
In a particular church
Remember this
WITH OR WITHOUT YOU, HIS PURPOSES WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED!
By Pastor Shadrack Ruto
http://www.upendochurch.org/
