"...i can gather all the news i need on the weather report. hey, i've got nothing to do today but smile..."

["The Only Living Boy in New York" - Simon & Garfunkel]

SACRIFICE.

G-d's really been speaking to me so much lately; i love it.

today He told me to read from Malachi.

Malachi 1:13-14, NIV
13 ..."When you bring injured, crippled or diseased animals and offer them as sacrifices, should I accept them from your hands?" says the LORD. 14 "Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord. For I am a great king," says the LORD Almighty, "and my name is to be feared among the nations.

at first when you or i read this, we may say to ourselves, "what's the big deal? it's just some animal you're slaughtering and burning on an altar, who cares if it has spots or not?"

as with many things from the Old Testament, a bit of contextual and holistic understanding go a long way with examining this. livestock value was, at this point in history, based on not only quantity and quality (health, amount of meat, etc.) but also aesthetics- any spots or other markings, missing limbs, etc. would all devalue the price a certain stock unit would fetch for.

so. how is this relevant?

people were sacrificing the less choice, less preferred offerings to the L-rd our G-d because they they were greedy- they wanted to brag of their wealth to their neighbours, "see; see how many flawless and unspotted lambs i have!" instead of giving it to G-d. G-d, understandably, is pretty pissed at that- He is the one thing that matters, the Holy L-rd of EVERYTHING, and you can't afford to give up your best cattle for him?

we still do this. "look at my car!" "look at my stereo system!" "look at my house!"
instead, we should concern ourselves with more permanent things- like owing G-d His dues. i don't just mean monetarily, either. i've been guilty of watching too much (FAR too much) TV, wasting time when i could instead be studying scripture, communing with G-d, fellowship with other believers, etc. and paying G-d the best of my resources, the cream of the crop.

THAT is what sacrifice is all about. it doesn't have to be painful, but it certainly shouldn't be comfortable or easy.