An Unblemished Sacrifice.
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.” “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.” Mal. 1: 8, 13. In the days when the Lord’s people offered sacrifices from their flocks to demonstrate their faith in the Lamb to whom all the offerings pointed, it was demanded of them that only animals without blemish could be brought. Often, in the days when Israel had wandered far from the Lord, they became careless and brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick. Through His prophet the Lord asked them, “Is it not evil?” And to place the matter before them as it really was, He challenged them, “Offer it now to thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person?” Not a one of them would so much as dare think of offering a blemished gift to his governor; still they brought just such gifts to the Lord. “Should I accept this of your hand?” He questions of the unfaithful ones. They were guilty of deception and could not excuse their action. We in these latter days do not bring an offering from our flocks for a sacrifice; but the Christian of to-day has no less a duty in the matter of giving than had the children of ancient Israel. Neither dare we offer a gift which is not fit for the purpose. The Lord has said, “My son, give Me thine heart.” That includes all. Will any one think that less will satisfy? Can one serve God and still cling to the world? — Not at all. “Ye can not serve two masters.” Would any one offer a half-hearted service to an employer, or to a ruler? Pride would demand the best service to the earthly master; pride and loyalty should demand as much in the service of the heavenly King.