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

Though written by an Old Testament prophet, this is a prediction of a future time when the Lord our God is worshiped by believers in every nation of the world. Put in context with the rest of the chapter, God is rebuking his priests in the temple for allowing half-hearted worship by offering God sick or lame animals.

God is telling us that even if we don’t give him our everything, His name will still be great among all the nations of the world. He is reminding us that He is a God of power; He doesn’t need us to do His work. But when He invites us to do His work and we respond with all that we have, He promises us a life of abundance.

The theme of WCC this year is Entrusted – Stepping out with God’s favor. God is entrusting us to represent Him to the world around us. How will we respond? With our leftovers and cast-offs, as the people did in the time of Malachi? Or with the full complement of the talents and gifts God has blessed us with in order that we might bless others?