(Mal) 1:6-8 CJB “A son honors his father and a servant his master. But if I’m a father, where is the honor due me? and if I’m a master, where is the respect due me? — says Adonai-Tzva’ot to you cohanim who despise my name. You ask, ‘How are we despising your name?’ By offering polluted food on my altar! Now you ask, ‘How are we polluting you?’ By saying that the table of Adonai doesn’t deserve respect; so that there’s nothing wrong with offering a blind animal as a sacrifice, nothing wrong with offering an animal that’s lame or sick. Try offering such an animal to your governor, and see if he will be pleased with you! Would he even receive you?” asks Adonai-Tzva’ot.”
Every time we gather around the Lord’s Table, we are given another opportunity to honor God with your life. Communion is far more than a religious ritual. It is a solemn remembrance of the greatest sacrifice ever made—the body and blood of Jesus Christ offered so that sinful men could be reconciled to a holy God.
Through His sacrifice we have been redeemed, not merely forgiven. We have been purchased. We belong to Christ. We are His servants, redeemed for His purposes and called to live lives that glorify Him.
Malachi confronted Israel because they brought God their leftovers. Rather than offering their best, they presented blind, lame, and diseased sacrifices while expecting God to accept them.
God’s rebuke wasn’t simply about animals on an altar. It revealed hearts that no longer honored Him.
Honor God with Your Life by Bringing Him Your Best
Although Christ fulfilled the Old Testament sacrificial system, God still calls His people to bring offerings.
Not animal sacrifices.
Our lives.
Paul writes that we are to present our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God (Romans 12:1). Every act of obedience, every surrendered desire, every sacrifice made for Christ becomes an offering of worship.
Jesus reminds us that His yoke is easy and His burden is light, yet He still commands us to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, follow Him, obey every word that proceeds from the Father, and make disciples of all nations.
Communion reminds us not only of what Christ has done for us but also of what Christ now expects from us.
The Fruit Christ Desires
Before we come to the Lord’s Table, Scripture calls us to examine ourselves.
Certainly we examine our sin.
But perhaps we should also examine our fruit.
Since the last time you remembered Christ’s sacrifice…
- Have you intentionally made disciples?
- Have you shared the gospel?
- Have you invested God’s Word into another man?
- Have you grown in obedience yourself?
- Have you lived as one who belongs to Christ?
Jesus declared that His Father is glorified when we bear much fruit, proving ourselves to be His disciples (John 15:8).
The offering God desires today is a life increasingly conformed to Christ and fully engaged in Christ’s mission.
Our Offering in Response to His Offering
When we take communion, we receive again the reminder of Christ’s perfect offering for our salvation.
But we should also come asking:
“What offering am I bringing to Him?”
Not because our works earn redemption.
They do not.
Rather, our obedience demonstrates gratitude for redemption already received.
Christ died to redeem a people who would be zealous for good works, faithful in disciple-making, and eager to glorify God with every area of life.
As you prepare for the Lord’s Table this Sunday, prepare throughout the week by living a life worthy of the One who gave Himself for you.
Bring Him the offering of faithful obedience.
Bring Him the fruit of disciple-making.
Bring Him a life that honors His great sacrifice.
Run Today’s Play
Don’t wait until Sunday to prepare for communion.
- Examine whether your daily life honors Christ’s sacrifice.
- Invest intentionally in making at least one disciple this week.
- Ask God to produce fruit through your obedience that you can joyfully offer back to Him.
- Come to the Lord’s Table with gratitude, humility, and a renewed commitment to glorify Him in every area of life.
Remember: Christ did not merely save you from sin—He saved you for His glory. Live this week in such a way that when you gather around His Table, you bring Him the offering of a life faithfully surrendered to His mission.
