Is Serving God Worth It? Lessons from Malachi

Today, we gathered around the powerful words of Psalm 100, reminded to worship the Lord with gladness and to come before Him with joyful songs, for He is good and His love endures forever. We sang and declared that God is for us, that His love is a mighty fortress, and that nothing—neither height nor depth, nor even death itself—can separate us from His love. Even in our failures, heartbreaks, and waiting, God’s grace and presence remain steadfast, drawing us to our knees in humility and hope.

We turned our hearts outward, praying for the persecuted church, especially in South Asia and Iran. We remembered the millions who suffer for their faith, asking God to strengthen, protect, and provide for them. We prayed for revival, for boldness, and for the Spirit to move in places where following Christ comes at great cost. Their example challenges us to deeper faith and compassion, reminding us that our prayers and solidarity matter in the global body of Christ.

As we opened the book of Malachi, we confronted the universal experience of feeling overlooked—by others, and sometimes even by God. The people in Malachi’s day wondered if serving God was worth it, especially when the arrogant seemed to prosper. Yet, God’s response is clear: He never overlooks the proud defiance of the faithless, nor the quiet devotion of the faithful. The faithful remnant, those who fear the Lord and honor His name, are His treasured possession. Their small acts of devotion are seen, remembered, and cherished by God, even when unnoticed by the world.

Malachi’s prophecy points us to the coming “Day of the Lord”—a day of judgment for the arrogant and healing for those who fear God. This theme, woven throughout Scripture, reminds us that God’s justice and mercy will ultimately prevail. The final day is both a warning and a promise: for the faithless, a call to repentance; for the faithful, assurance of God’s compassion and reward.

Through Christ, we see the fulfillment of these promises. Jesus took upon Himself the judgment we deserved, so that by faith, we are safeguarded from wrath and welcomed into joyful freedom. As we took communion, we remembered that the cross is the ultimate sign that we are not overlooked—God’s love has gone to the greatest lengths to claim us as His own. Let us live as His treasured people, with patient endurance, boldness, and gratitude, knowing that our faithfulness, however small, is never forgotten.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. God Sees Every Act of Faithfulness Even the smallest acts of devotion—prayer, kindness, or worship—are seen and remembered by God. In a world that often values only what is visible or grand, God treasures the quiet, steady faithfulness of His people. This truth invites us to persevere in the unseen and ordinary, trusting that nothing done for the Lord is ever wasted or overlooked. [46:41]
• 2. The Danger of Measuring by Earthly Standards It is easy to envy those who seem to prosper without God, or to become discouraged when faithfulness appears unrewarded. But when we measure God’s attention or blessing by material success, we risk eroding our confidence in His justice and love. True reward is found in being known and cherished by God, not in outward circumstances. [42:04]
• 3. The Day of the Lord: Judgment and Healing Scripture’s vision of the “Day of the Lord” is both sobering and hopeful. For the faithless, it is a day of reckoning; for the faithful, a day of healing and joyful freedom. This dual reality calls us to examine our hearts, to repent where needed, and to live with hope, knowing that God’s justice and mercy will have the final word. [52:32]
• 4. The Cross: Our Assurance of Acceptance Through Jesus, the judgment we deserved has already been borne. The cross assures us that we are not overlooked, but deeply loved and accepted. This frees us from fear of condemnation and empowers us to live with gratitude, boldness, and a heart for others, especially as we await the final fulfillment of God’s promises. [68:49]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [05:24] - Call to Worship: Psalm 100
• [06:08] - Worship: God Is For Us
• [08:44] - Song: Thank God for Chances
• [10:31] - Song: Hope Is Here
• [14:04] - Song: Jesus Paid It All
• [18:18] - Praying for the Persecuted Church
• [22:40] - God at Work in Iran
• [23:20] - Prayer for Iran
• [29:53] - Announcements & Women’s Tea
• [34:19] - Opening Prayer & Malachi Introduction
• [36:11] - When We Feel Overlooked
• [38:56] - The Faithless and the Faithful
• [44:03] - God’s Book of Remembrance
• [48:08] - Treasured Possession: God’s Promise
• [52:32] - The Coming Day of the Lord
• [57:41] - Understanding Prophecy: The Day of the Lord
• [60:59] - Healing and Freedom for the Faithful
• [63:41] - Elijah, John the Baptist, and Advent
• [68:49] - Communion: The Cross and Our Assurance
• [75:13] - Closing Worship: Is He Worthy?
• [80:59] - Benediction and Sending Forth

Small Group Bible Study Guide: “God Sees the Faithful”

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### Bible Reading

Psalm 100:1-5 (ESV)
> Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
> Serve the Lord with gladness!
> Come into his presence with singing!
> Know that the Lord, he is God!
> It is he who made us, and we are his;
> we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
> Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
> and his courts with praise!
> Give thanks to him; bless his name!
> For the Lord is good;
> his steadfast love endures forever,
> and his faithfulness to all generations.

Malachi 3:13–18 (ESV)
> “Your words have been hard against me, says the Lord. But you say, ‘How have we spoken against you?’
> You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God. What is the profit of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before the Lord of hosts?
> And now we call the arrogant blessed. Evildoers not only prosper but they put God to the test and they escape.’”
> Then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name.
> “They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him.
> Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.”

Malachi 4:1–3 (ESV)
> “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.
> But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.
> And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the Lord of hosts.”

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### Observation Questions

1. In Malachi 3:13–15, what complaints do the people bring against God, and how do they view serving Him? ([38:56])
2. According to Malachi 3:16, what is God’s response to those who “fear the Lord and esteem his name”? What does He do for them? ([44:03])
3. What is the “book of remembrance” mentioned in Malachi 3:16, and what does it signify about God’s character? ([46:01])
4. In Malachi 4:2, what promise is given to those who fear God’s name, and what image is used to describe their experience? ([01:00:59])

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### Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think the people in Malachi’s day felt that serving God was “useless” or “vain”? What might have contributed to their discouragement? ([38:56])
2. What does it mean to “fear the Lord and esteem his name” in the context of Malachi? How is this different from just going through religious motions? ([44:03])
3. The sermon mentioned that God treasures even the “small acts of devotion” that may go unnoticed by others. Why do you think God values these small, unseen acts? ([46:41])
4. The “Day of the Lord” is described as both a day of judgment and a day of healing. How can these two realities exist together, and what does this reveal about God’s justice and mercy? ([52:32])

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### Application Questions

1. The sermon talked about feeling overlooked—by people and even by God. Can you recall a time when you felt your faithfulness or service was unnoticed? How did you respond, and what helped you keep going? ([36:11])
2. The people in Malachi’s day measured God’s blessing by material success and envied those who seemed to prosper without God. Are there areas in your life where you are tempted to measure God’s love or attention by your circumstances? How can you shift your perspective? ([42:04])
3. The “faithful remnant” in Malachi were noticed by God for their quiet devotion. What are some “small” acts of faithfulness you can practice this week, even if no one else sees? ([46:41])
4. The sermon challenged us to pray for the persecuted church and to let their example inspire deeper faith and compassion. How can you make praying for the global church a regular part of your life? ([28:37])
5. The “Day of the Lord” is both a warning and a promise. Is there an area in your life where you need to repent or realign your heart with God’s purposes? What step can you take this week? ([52:32])
6. Communion was described as a reminder that we are not overlooked—God’s love went to the greatest lengths for us. How does remembering the cross help you deal with feelings of discouragement or being unseen? ([01:08:49])
7. The sermon ended with a call to live as God’s “treasured possession” with patient endurance, boldness, and gratitude. What is one practical way you can live out your identity as God’s treasured person this week—in your family, work, or community? ([48:08])

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