Its Not About Christmas or Easter (or Sunday)

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Does this altar represent everyday, or just special days?

Its not about Christmas, or Easter or for that matter Sunday. What do I mean? I don’t mean- “Don’t celebrate holidays”. Absolutely we should celebrate the Sabbath,  Christmas and Easter. Heartless religion does not please God. So often our celebration of these days like Christmas and Easter and even our weekly Sunday gathering at church is religious, but has no true heart for God. People have been falling into this trip since the beginning of time. We see this in the Book of Malachi,
“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? 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 1:8, 10 ESV
In this Bible passage, the Jewish exiles had been sacrificing and worshiping God in appearance, but truly have not been giving God their best. Instead of giving from their hearts, these Jews gave what they did not want- the least of their flocks and crops. God tells them that judgement is coming and he doesn't care that they are fulfilling their religious rituals. In response to sin and heartless religious practice God condemns the very religious feasts he instituted in many places throughout the Old Testament prophets,
“And I will put an end to all [Israel’s mirth], her feasts, her new moons, her Sabbaths and all her appointed feasts” Hosea 2:11
“I hate, I despise your feasts and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the peace offerings of your fattened animals, I will not look upon them. Take away from me the nose of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” Amos 5:21-24
“Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations. I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates; they have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them.” Isa 1:13-14
This is just a mere sampling of God condemning religious feasts that showed no real reverence for him. In all of these examples, the people performed religion, but then turned around and hated those around them or griped about the burden of the feasts. Why do we even celebrate Christmas and Easter and the Sabbath?
“I have come that they may have life and have it in its fullness.” John 10:10
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
God did not come so that we could celebrate a few days of the year. God came that we would live in him.Jesus even said,
“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me”. Luke 9:23
Worshiping God is not an activity for a few days of the year or one special day. God is not impressed with your religion. The fact that you show up to church on Christmas and Easter or even most Sundays is irrelevant. We should celebrate these special days remembering Christ’s death & resurrection, birth and gathering with his people. But if our obedience, overflowing from worship of God ends after we walk out of church then God is not pleased. So consider the fact- God didn’t die on a cross so you could celebrate Christmas or Easter. He died for your entire life. He wants your WHOLE life, not just a few days. Don’t give God leftovers of your life. God sees through your religious practices. Have a genuine heart that wants to worship him, everyday.

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