What’s your vision of a perfect life? For many of us, it’s shaped by the pursuit of pleasure, ease, and comfort. But here’s the hard truth: chasing those priorities will leave us restless and wanting. Malachi 1:6-2:9 confronts this head-on, challenging us to reflect on what we give weight to in our lives and worship.
The Problem: Giving Weight to the Wrong Priorities
In Malachi’s time, the priests and people of Israel gave their leftovers to God—blemished sacrifices that fell short of God’s standard. They prioritized their comfort, ease, and benefit over honoring God. This misplaced weight revealed a deeper issue: their worship had become hollow, lacking the reverence and focus that God deserves.
Today, we face similar temptations. It’s easier to prioritize sleeping in over prayer, Netflix over Scripture, or tailgating over church. These choices reveal where we ascribe glory—often to ourselves or the world’s vision of a perfect life.
The Invitation: Reevaluate Your Priorities
Malachi’s words call us to something greater: to give weight to God’s presence and perfection. Worship isn’t about checking boxes; it’s about recognizing our need for God’s perfect life and letting that shape every part of us. True worship starts with prioritizing God:
- His Presence: Spend time in prayer and Scripture, seeking God’s guidance.
- His People: Commit to community with other believers.
- His Glory: Offer your best in every area of life, not your leftovers.
The Freedom of God’s Perfection
Here’s the good news: perfection isn’t something we achieve on our own. Jesus, the perfect human, unites us with God’s life and peace. When we prioritize Him, we’re freed from striving for a perfect life on our own terms. Instead, we’re invited into a life shaped by God’s wisdom, guidance, and abundant grace.
Action Steps
1. Reflect: What currently gives weight to your priorities? Is it leading to anxiety and emptiness?
2. Confess: Acknowledge where you’ve fallen short of giving God the honor He deserves.
3. Reprioritize: Take tangible steps to put God first—whether that’s carving out time for worship, serving others, or surrendering a comfort that’s holding you back.
Final Challenge
What gives weight to your worship? Don’t settle for giving God your leftovers. Instead, step into the freedom and fullness of life that comes from prioritizing Him above all else. If you’re ready to take that step or want to learn more, reach out to a trusted follower of Jesus today. Let’s journey together toward a life united to God’s perfection.
From Jesus Prom 2023
Jesus Prom, Sat., Dec. 14, 6pm. Dinner and dance for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, hosted by CCC students and adults. There are many ways to participate. Contact Mitch Knight to get involved.
Ask the Lord to reveal His love, compassion, and care through us to our guests during the Jesus Prom (1 John 3:18).
Christmas Giving Project: We’re trying to bless 14 families, totaling around 60 people—about 40 are kids. We're also partnering with New Generations Church to contribute to their efforts to bless 300 people from the East and West sides of Buffalo, so every contribution makes a difference. Thank you all for your incredible help so far! If you’d like to contribute, there’s still time to sign up in the CCC lobby. Donations will be distributed after the worship gathering on Sunday, December 22nd. Let’s make this a blessing for as many as possible!
(December 28, 2pm-5pm) Drop into the Clarence Church of Christ and catch up with Hector, Joy, Lucia, and Gaby, enjoy some Mexican snacks, and learn more about what God is doing in Mexico. Let us know you’re stopping by!
Text “ccc” to (833) 304-0788 to get texts about upcoming events, activities, snow closures, and opportunities to get involved.
Sean Cronin will be preaching from the next passage in our series from Malachi (2:10-16). I hope you'll plan to gather to praise and worship Jesus, be edified by the body of Christ, hear the good news of Jesus, and be invited to live further into Jesus' abundant life!
Continue to trust that God is present and active.
