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.     (Malachi 1:8)
 
We donated an old car to KUSC, the classical music station, last week. A 2002 Ford Taurus with 175,000 miles, it had endured hard use by our youngest son over the last 4-5 years. It was driveable, but that’s the most that can be said for it. The transmission was worrisome, the ABS indicator light was constantly illuminated, the muffler was loud, the corners of the doors were rusting, and leaks had produced a strong smell of mildew.
 
Donating this clunker made me think of the verse, above, from Malachi. Instead of bringing animals without blemish to the LORD as a sacrifice, as He commanded, the Jews were bringing cast-off, worthless animals. I suspect they had substituted fallen man’s standard for God’s standard. Instead of “first and best,” they thought, It’s better than nothing. God calls that thinking evil.
 
I wonder about the time I offer to the Lord to commune with Him in His word and in prayer each day. Is it a top priority for me? Or do I offer Him odds and ends, scraps of time, if I have any left? Do I rationalize by thinking, It’s better than nothing? God wants my first and best because He’s worth it and because He knows what’s good for me.
 
Here are some suggested prayer topics for this week:
 
1.  Our Missions Council is sponsoring a Chinese Conversation Corner between services next Sunday. It will be a time for cross-cultural fellowship and a chance for new immigrants from China to practice their English. Pray for good participation from both the English and Chinese congregations. Pray that the Chinese believers will overcome their natural shyness about speaking English.
 
2.  Lift up the special Night of Prayer and Worship on Feb. 3. Pray that we will honor the Lord with our praise and worship and hear from Him in a special way.
 
3.  Russell Moore, a leader of the Southern Baptist Convention, confesses that he hates Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, which was Jan. 17 this year. “I hate this Sunday not because of what we have to say but that we have to say it at all. The idea of aborting an unborn child … ought to be so self-evidently wrong that a ‘Sanctity of Human Life Sunday’ ought to be as unnecessary as a ‘Reality of Gravity Sunday.’” Pray that our fellow citizens’ eyes would be opened to the evil of abortion.
 
4.  How has God protected you in the last week? Thank Him.
 
5.  Thank God for the release of Saeed Abedini – formerly a Muslim, now a Christian pastor – from an Iranian prison after more than three years of captivity.
 
I spoke with Bob Palfenier, our retired missionary, last week. We have been praying for his wife, Rose, after a stroke two months ago. Bob asked me to pass along their deep and sincere thanks for Calvary’s financial and prayer support over many years.

(The quote from Russell Moore is from his book, Onward: Engaging the Culture Without Losing the Gospel, p. 115.)

In Christ,
Carol Gilbert, Prayer Chair
Calvary Community Church of Brea