Day 6: Return to Him; He is Trustworthy! - By Janie Harvey

After Pastor Tim’s post yesterday, I too read Malachi. I was impacted by the sharp contrast the Lord paints between the righteous and the wicked, directing us to His expectations and desires. This message begs self-examination. Through these powerful questions and answers, we are led to consider God’s call to love Him! How can we do this? He’s faithful to show us His heart.

We start by giving Him our BEST—pure offerings in our worship, service, and confession. Then, in a world that is filled with corruption and deceit, we are encouraged to not to complain and grumble, but to fear the Lord, meditate on His name, and believe and declare that He will not honor evil conduct. He reminds us He will come again in judgment and in faithfulness to His own.

Meanwhile, He is the refiner’s fire—working in us and cleansing us by the power of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Let us take hold of the power of the resurrection life in us, declaring dominion over sin!

What about when we stumble? Malachi 3:7 states, “Return to Me, and I will return to You.” When Israel asks “In what way shall we return,” note God’s FIRST answer: “Bring all of the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house.” He actually invites us to TRY HIM, and to prove His trustworthiness with our giving. 2 Corinthians 6-12 further encourages our generosity and faithfulness to the One who provides both bread and seed.

As we seek to dedicate and lay ourselves down to Him, let’s ask Him to help us to be faithful to offer Him our BEST, through our worship, our trust, our words, and our giving. In Malachi 3:6 He states: “For I am the Lord, I do not change.” Let us honor our baptism in Christ, and our righteousness in Him. God’s covenant promises are ours.

-Janie Harvey