Returning to God: Embracing Generosity and Grace

Devotional

Day 1: God’s Unchanging Nature Brings Us Peace and Security

God’s character never changes, even when our circumstances or feelings do. Unlike our own shifting standards of justice and love, God remains steadfast, faithful, and always receptive to us, no matter our failures or doubts. This truth means we can approach Him with confidence, knowing He is as loving and merciful today as He was when He sent Jesus for us. In a world where everything else feels uncertain, God’s immutability is our anchor and hope. [19:40]

Malachi 3:6-7 (ESV)
“For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’”

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to rest in the security of God’s unchanging love and faithfulness, rather than your own performance or feelings?

Day 2: Returning to God Means Repentance and a Changed Heart

God calls us to return to Him—not just with outward actions, but with a genuine turning of our hearts away from sin and toward Jesus. Repentance is not about becoming more religious or simply doing better; it’s about an honest, internal shift where we recognize our need for God, turn from idols, and seek a restored relationship with Him. No matter how far you feel from God, today is always the right day to return and experience His grace anew. [32:10]

Malachi 3:7 (ESV)
“From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’”

Reflection: What is one specific area where you sense God calling you to turn back to Him today, and what would it look like to take a first step of repentance?

Day 3: Generosity Flows from a Heart Transformed by Grace

True generosity is not about meeting a minimum requirement, but about responding to God’s grace with cheerful, sacrificial giving. The law set boundaries, but grace transforms our motives and empowers us to give our best, not leftovers. When our joy is rooted in Jesus, we become more open-handed with our resources, time, and love, reflecting God’s own generosity to us. [57:58]

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (ESV)
“The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”

Reflection: How can you intentionally practice cheerful, sacrificial generosity this week—whether with your finances, time, or talents?

Day 4: Trusting God’s Promises Unlocks Spiritual Blessing and Nearness

God invites us to test His faithfulness by trusting Him with our resources, promising to pour out blessings—not just material, but spiritual nearness and joy. Many hold back out of fear, past disappointments, or spiritual dryness, but God assures us that He can do more with our surrendered lives than we ever could. When we trust Him, we experience a deeper sense of His presence and see our lives and world through His perspective. [01:07:20]

Malachi 3:10-12 (ESV)
“Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts. Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.”

Reflection: What is one area where you are hesitant to trust God’s promises, and how might you take a step of faith to “test” His faithfulness this week?

Day 5: Our Obedience and Generosity Impact the World for Christ

When we return to God and give generously, our obedience is multiplied far beyond ourselves—God uses our offerings to reach people and nations with the gospel. Our faithfulness today can change the eternity of people we may never meet, as God’s wisdom and presence are made known through the church. Every act of generosity is an investment in God’s global mission, and He delights to use what we surrender for His glory among the nations. [01:10:36]

Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV)
“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’”

Reflection: How can you participate in God’s global mission this week—through prayer, giving, or sharing the hope of Jesus with someone in your sphere?

Sermon Summary

Today’s focus is on God’s unchanging nature and His call for us to return to Him with our whole hearts, especially in the area of generosity. God’s immutability—His steadfastness and faithfulness—means that He is always ready to receive us, no matter how far we’ve wandered. While we often carry the baggage of shame and guilt, God invites us to leave the past behind and step into a renewed relationship with Him. The passage from Malachi 3:6-12 reveals that God’s people had become complacent, offering lackluster worship and withholding their best from Him. Yet, God’s response is not to abandon them, but to call them back, reminding them of His covenant faithfulness and offering a path to restoration.

The heart of the issue is not just about money, but about worship and the posture of our hearts. When we treat God as an afterthought—giving Him our “old couches” instead of our first and best—we reveal what truly holds our affections. God’s commands are not arbitrary rules, but prescriptions for our good, designed to lead us into flourishing. The call to return is a call to repentance, to turn away from idols and self-reliance, and to turn toward Jesus, who alone can transform our hearts and empower us to live generously.

Grace, not law, is now our motivation. While the Old Testament tithe set a minimum, grace calls us to maximum devotion, rooted in the sacrificial love of Jesus. Generosity is not just about meeting a requirement, but about responding to the lavish grace we’ve received. When our joy is found in Christ, we become more open-handed with all that we have—our time, resources, and relationships. God promises that as we trust Him and test His faithfulness, He will pour out blessings—not always material, but always spiritual and relational, drawing us closer to Himself.

Our giving is never just about us; it’s about God’s mission to the nations. What we offer is multiplied for the sake of the gospel, impacting lives and eternities far beyond what we can see. The invitation is clear: return to the Lord, trust His promises, and step into the joy of wholehearted worship and generosity.

Key Takeaways

1. God’s Unchanging Character Is Our Anchor God’s immutability means He is always faithful, always loving, and always just. Unlike our shifting moods and standards, God’s character is constant, providing a secure foundation for our lives. This truth assures us that we can always return to Him, confident that He receives us with the same grace and mercy as when He first called us. Our hope is not in our own consistency, but in His unchanging nature. [53:21]
2. Repentance Is a Daily Invitation, Not a One-Time Event The call to “return” is not just for those who have wandered far, but for all of us who are prone to drift. Repentance is a turning away from anything that captures our hearts more than God—be it comfort, control, or even good things that become ultimate things. True repentance is not about self-improvement or religious performance, but about turning to Jesus, who alone can renew and restore us. Each day is an opportunity to recalibrate our hearts and realign our affections with Him. [55:12]
3. Grace Demands More Than Law—It Transforms Our Giving While the law set boundaries and minimums, grace calls us to cheerful, sacrificial generosity rooted in the gospel. The New Testament vision for giving is not about percentages, but about hearts transformed by Christ’s love, eager to give beyond what is required. Grace empowers us to see all of life as an offering, and our giving becomes an act of worship, not obligation. The more we delight in Jesus, the more open-handed we become with all He has entrusted to us. [57:58]
4. Testing God’s Promises Leads to Deeper Trust and Blessing God invites us to “test” Him in the area of generosity, promising to pour out blessings as we trust Him with our resources. These blessings are not always material, but often manifest as a deeper sense of His presence, joy, and relational nearness. When we hold our possessions loosely and trust God’s provision, we experience freedom from anxiety and a greater capacity to participate in His mission. Testing God is not about manipulating Him, but about stepping out in faith and discovering His faithfulness. [64:12]
5. Our Generosity Fuels God’s Global Mission What we give is never just about meeting needs within our own community; it is multiplied for the sake of the gospel among the nations. Our tithes and offerings are used by God to bring the hope of Jesus to people and places we may never see. This global perspective lifts our eyes beyond ourselves and invites us into the joy of participating in God’s redemptive work around the world. Generosity is both an act of worship and a means by which God’s wisdom and love are made known to all peoples. [70:36]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:10] - Meeting New Faces and Church Family
[04:30] - Introduction to Malachi 3 and God’s Word
[07:15] - Shame, Guilt, and God’s Ways
[10:40] - Spiritual Decline and Complacency
[14:05] - God’s Unchanging Nature and Faithfulness
[18:30] - The Call to Return and Repent
[23:00] - Idolatry, Worship, and the Heart
[27:45] - The “Old Couch” Phenomenon and Giving
[31:00] - Law, Grace, and the Heart of Generosity
[36:10] - Stories of Possessions and the Heart (Luke 18 & 19)
[41:00] - Testing God and Experiencing His Blessings
[45:30] - Generosity’s Impact on the Nations
[49:00] - Responding to God’s Invitation
[52:00] - Prayer and Call to Salvation

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Malachi 3:6-12 (ESV) —
> 6 “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.
> 7 From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’
> 8 Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions.
> 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you.
> 10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.
> 11 I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts.
> 12 Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.”

Observation Questions

According to Malachi 3:6, what reason does God give for not consuming the people, even though they have turned away from Him?
What specific actions does God accuse His people of in verses 7-9, and how do the people respond to these accusations?
What does God promise will happen if the people “bring the full tithe into the storehouse”? (v.10-12)
In the sermon, what is meant by the “old couch phenomenon,” and how does it relate to the way we give to God? [55:12]

Interpretation Questions

Why is God’s unchanging nature (His immutability) so important for people who feel distant or ashamed? How does this truth offer hope for returning to Him? [53:21]
The people in Malachi’s day seemed unaware or in denial about their need to return to God. What are some ways we might also be unaware of our own spiritual drift? [54:30]
The sermon says that grace “demands more than law” and transforms our giving. What does it look like for generosity to be motivated by grace rather than obligation? [57:58]
God invites His people to “test” Him in the area of generosity. What does it mean to test God in this context, and how is this different from trying to manipulate God? [01:04:12]

Application Questions

The sermon described how we sometimes give God our “old couches”—our leftovers instead of our best. What is one area of your life (time, money, energy, relationships) where you tend to give God what’s left over? What would it look like to give Him your first and best in that area? [55:12]
Is there any “baggage” of shame or guilt from your past that makes it hard for you to return to God wholeheartedly? What would it look like to leave that behind and step into a renewed relationship with Him this week? [07:15]
The call to “return” is not just for those who have wandered far, but for all of us who are prone to drift. What is one practical step you can take this week to recalibrate your heart and realign your affections with Jesus? [54:30]
The sermon said, “Grace always demands more than the law.” How does remembering Jesus’ sacrificial love for you change your attitude toward generosity? Is there a specific way you feel prompted to be more open-handed with your resources? [57:58]
God promises blessings when we trust Him with our giving, but these blessings are not always material. Have you ever experienced spiritual or relational blessings as a result of trusting God with your resources? If so, share your story. If not, what is one way you could “test” God’s faithfulness in this area? [01:04:12]
Our generosity fuels God’s mission to the nations. How does knowing that your giving can impact people and places you may never see change your perspective on giving? Is there a specific mission or ministry you feel drawn to support? [01:10:36]
The sermon ended with a simple invitation: “Return to the Lord, trust His promises, and step into the joy of wholehearted worship and generosity.” What is one thing you sense God inviting you to do in response to this message? [01:11:53]

Sermon Clips

I don't know where you've been, I don't know what you've done, I don't know what's been going on in your heart, but I know that everybody who walked in to Grace this morning, in some form or fashion, big or small, we've been carrying a suitcase. We've been carrying a suitcase of stuff. And you think about what you've said, what you've done, you're here today. Let's put the past in the past and let's think about what does God want to speak to us right now. Let's have a sense of newness. Forget the past and move on to better things. And that better thing is the person and the work and the message of Jesus. [00:41:09] (31 seconds) #LeaveThePastBehind

You can have good things, but when those good things become ultimate things, and that's the thing that your heart longs for, that's idolatry. And everybody in the room does that every week. They were guilty of idolatry and faithlessness. And Malachi writes, return to the statutes of the Lord. Return to his commandments. God's not a cosmic killjoy. He's given us commandments and has prescribed things for us to believe and do for our good. [00:53:07] (26 seconds) #IdolatryVsDevotion

We don't think of him first. We don't give our best. We don't do Colossians chapter 3, verse 23. In everything, in word or deed, do it unto the Lord. With our giving, we have this old couch phenomenon. And the Israelites were doing that. And God says, return to me. I want your heart. [00:55:20] (25 seconds) #HeartFirstGiving

As believers, we're not under the law, but we are under grace. We're under grace. Unmerited favor to receive what we don't deserve. For you're saved, rescued, forgiven by grace. Grace, it's not anything that you do, but it's the gift of God, not by work so that no man, woman, boy, or girl may boast. Grace always demands more than the law. [00:56:32] (23 seconds) #GraceBeyondLaw

The law sets external boundaries. Grace transforms the heart. The law regulates conduct. Grace demands for complete devotion. In fact, in the Old Testament, you could actually do all the things of the Lord externally. You could do everything that you were commanded to do, but your heart could be far from God. [00:57:04] (21 seconds) #GraceTransformsHeart

Aren't you thankful that he placed a long game with your life? I mean, he's already there. He's already in tomorrow and he knows, you know what? Nate's going to make mistakes and sin and screw up. He's patient and he's kind with me as he's patient and kind with you as well. [01:01:39] (16 seconds) #PatientGodLongGame

All of life is all meant to be devoted to Jesus. Your singleness, your marriage, your parenting, your recreation, your finances, your job, your affections, all of life. Worship is not just when we sing. Everything that we do, as we listen to the word, are we worshiping? As we sing, are we worshiping? As we give, are we worshiping? As we fellowship with one another, are we worshiping? As we're talking to people about Jesus, are we worshiping? And he wants your heart. [01:04:12] (29 seconds) #WorshipInAllThings

The Father even says two things. He gives them a promise. Test me. It's a word that means challenge me. Test me. Go ahead and test me. See if my words will not be true, and I will not pour out blessings upon you. That word pour out is the same word that's used in Genesis 7, verse 11, where God declares, I'm going to open up the sky and release floodwaters. I'm going to pour out rain and cover the earth. God will be excessive in his blessings to you as you test him time and time again. [01:05:03] (37 seconds) #TestGodTrustBlessings

When you give, you're not just being obedient. God takes our tithes and our offerings and he multiplies them and he goes to the nations. There are people around the world that need to have the person and the presence of Jesus presented to them. And your tithes and offerings are changing the eternity of people around the world. It's amazing. It's amazing. [01:09:57] (27 seconds) #GivingChangesEternity

Understand and believe that God will bless you and that he can do more with your money than you can immeasurably do. People give to entities and nonprofits and nonprofits because they believe that particular organization is going to do something worthwhile. What is more worthwhile than giving people the solution to their greatest problem? He can do more with your money than you ever could. Believe that. [01:11:40] (25 seconds) #GodMultipliesGiving

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