Blind Goat

I have a confession to make. I grabbed a blind goat when I headed to a prayer meeting. The meeting was online, so no one in the group saw it. And even though my computer camera was on (because I want to participate and not just be an icon on the screen) no one could see what I brought. But there it was, standing just out of view. My polluted offering.

Let me back up. Every other week I join a thirty-minute prayer group and it is such a blessing. It’s only half-an-hour out of 14 days, so it’s not a huge commitment. Even though we live far apart, we get to see each other and pray together over specific requests for the people and places we represent. And after every session, I’m always glad I attended.

My Polluted Offering

But this time, y’all. This time I was right in the middle of a project that I needed to complete. And honestly, it was something I could do on the side and no one would know the difference. I knew I could even do it with my computer camera on. I just needed to click around on a different website and send a couple of messages. I could listen in on the prayer time and get my task accomplished at the same time.

Now maybe we all do that on occasion. I’m not knocking multi-tasking. But here’s what I experienced today. The Holy Spirit. That’s what. Or rather Who. 

The Holy Spirit and God’s Word

I joined the prayer meeting with every intention of continuing my other task. Then the Holy Spirit reminded me of what I’d just read in the Bible about an hour earlier. 

In the mornings, before I do anything else, I read the Bible and pray. On this day my reading included the first chapter of Malachi. That sounds pretty innocuous, right? No way that Malachi can relate to my modern-day life.

Here is what came to mind as I clicked “Join” on the online prayer meeting:

“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear?” says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’ By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ By saying that the LORD’s table may be despised. When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the LORD of hosts. And now entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand, will he show favor to any of you? says the LORD of hosts. Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the LORD of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand.” –Malachi 1:6-10 ESV (emphasis mine)

My Polluted Heart

My heart was as polluted as the blind goat in this passage. I was half-heartedly dragging my offering to prayer meeting. The issue was not my desire to multitask; the issue was my heart. Why bother to bring an offering at all if I’m gonna bring a blemished one? In this passage God says we wouldn’t even give that kind of “honor” to an earthly authority. Why do we think our Heavenly Father would be honored by it?

I quickly repented. Setting aside my project, I fully immersed in the prayer group. I’m thankful for the Lord’s forgiveness for my wayward heart and the blessing of our sweet time in prayer. I’m so glad I gave it my full attention.

I’m confessing to you my heart attitude and praising God for changing it. And I can testify how digging into God’s Word (even an Old Testament book like Malachi!) can pierce our hearts and pull us closer to our Loving Father.

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” –Jas. 1:22 ESV

What About You?

• Have you ever brought a “blind goat”?
• What has God taught you about whole-heartedy giving your best?
• Have you ever been convicted by a verse in the Old Testament?