For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the LORD of hosts.

Malachi 1:11

We often sing songs of God’s greatness in worship services and certainly God is great, but in this passage, the LORD was not worshipped in many places outside of Israel, so Malachi’s writing is prophetic of God’s blessing on the whole earth to come through the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus some 400 years later.

Even today, God is not acknowledged by all and that is apparent wherever you travel on this planet. Over the years, we’ve been able to travel to many places who do not fear God or worship Him at all, but we know there will come a day when –

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:8-11

How should we respond? First, let’s avoid being the kind of people who “worshipped” the LORD in Malachi’s day-

“Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For I am a great King, says the LORD of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations.”

Malachi 1:14

Second, let’s worship God fully in our lives, with no room for doing things halfway.