Familiar
What is familiar to you?
Your children's voice, your spouse, your daily routine, the road you travel? We have many things very familiar to us.
Webster defines familiar: common, well known, close association. The word origin from the Latin is, "the family footing."
What often happens in our family settings? We love each other, know each other, and care about each other, we surely enjoy one other.
Yet, quite possibly we are quicker tempered, irritated easily, and/or often more impatient with each other. After all, we are family.
In the Old Testament book of Malachi, the Lord warns Israel about despising His name, by offering polluted food upon His altar.
But you say, "How have we polluted you?" Malachi 1:1-14
Does our familiarity with the notion of who God is breed laziness, complacency, and/or lack of reverent fear?
We are living at a time and in a generation that can easily look up any kind of idea about God. Many have no and easily take God for granted.
In Malachi, God wanted the Israelites to realize how mighty He is, and when giving an offering, we are to do so with His greatness in mind.
The offerings Israel made, at this time, were not done with a right heart. They were becoming indifferent toward God and the way they conducted
their lives. They were treating the commandments of God with familiarity and carelessness. They came to look upon them as simply ordinary.
Thus, He says that He has no pleasure in Israel and would not accept their offerings.
Are we dishonoring God in our attitude?
In our deeds?
In our actions?
Are we becoming careless with God and His word?
Our familiarity with God as believers is only valuable as it pertains to the principles of God that never change.
It is all about our heart.
Until next time, Pam
