Trusting God Through Silence and Generosity

Devotional

Day 1: Meditate on and Obey God’s Word

God’s Word is a living guide, meant to be continually on our lips and in our hearts, shaping our actions and decisions each day. When we meditate on Scripture and let it inform our lives, we align ourselves with God’s wisdom and open ourselves to His blessing. The discipline of returning to the Bible, reflecting on its truths, and seeking to live them out is not just a religious exercise but a pathway to true prosperity and success as God defines it. [25:22]

Joshua 1:8 (ESV)
"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success."

Reflection: What is one specific way you can keep God’s Word “on your lips” today—perhaps by memorizing a verse, praying through a passage, or sharing Scripture with someone else?

Day 2: Return to God with Trust and Repentance

God’s heart is always for His people to return to Him, no matter how far they have wandered. Even when we feel distant or unloved, God’s invitation remains: “Return to me, and I will return to you.” This call is not just for ancient Israel but for each of us today, inviting us to trust in His unchanging love and to come back to Him with open hearts. When we do, He promises to meet us with grace and restoration. [38:26]

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: Is there an area of your life where you sense God inviting you to return to Him? What would it look like to take a first step back toward Him today?

Day 3: Trust God with Your First and Best

God calls us not just to give, but to give Him our first and best—demonstrating our trust in His provision. The act of tithing, giving the first tenth, is a tangible way to declare that God is our provider and that we trust Him more than our own ability to control our resources. When we bring our whole tithe, we are invited to “test” God’s faithfulness and experience His abundant blessing, learning that He is more trustworthy than any human advisor or institution. [36:48]

Malachi 3:10 (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."

Reflection: What would it look like for you to trust God with the “first tenth” of your resources this week, rather than what’s left over? Is there a step of faith you can take in your giving?

Day 4: Seek God First in All Things

Putting God first is not limited to our finances; it is a principle that applies to every area of life—our time, relationships, work, and ambitions. When we seek God’s kingdom above all else, we align our priorities with His, trusting that He will provide for our needs and guide our steps. This kind of seeking is active and intentional, shaping the way we approach each day and every decision. [47:33]

Matthew 6:33 (ESV)
"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

Reflection: In what area of your life do you most need to “seek God first” right now? What is one practical way you can put Him first today?

Day 5: Remember Christ’s Sacrifice as the Foundation of Trust

The ultimate proof of God’s love and trustworthiness is found in the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. When doubts arise about God’s care or faithfulness, we need only look to the cross, where Jesus gave His body and shed His blood for our forgiveness and restoration. This act of love is the foundation for our trust in God, reminding us that He has already given us His very best and will not withhold any good thing from us. [51:41]

Romans 8:32 (ESV)
"He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?"

Reflection: When you reflect on Jesus’ sacrifice, how does it shape your willingness to trust God with every part of your life—even the parts that feel most vulnerable or uncertain?

Sermon Summary

The story of God’s people is marked by moments of profound silence and powerful invitation. After the last words of the prophet Malachi, God chose to be silent for 400 years—a silence that was not empty, but pregnant with anticipation, setting the stage for the coming of John the Baptist and, ultimately, Jesus. This period reminds us that God’s pauses are purposeful, designed to stir hunger and readiness in our hearts for what He will do next. Even as empires rose and fell, God was preparing the world for the arrival of His Son, and the language, culture, and circumstances were being shaped for the gospel to flourish.

Malachi’s message is a dialogue between God and His people, exposing their doubts and their distance. The people questioned God’s love, failed to honor Him, and withheld their best from Him—offering sacrifices that cost them nothing and holding back their tithes. God’s response is not anger, but a plea: “Return to me, and I will return to you.” The heart of God is always relational, longing for trust and intimacy with His people. He invites us to test Him—not in arrogance, but in faith—especially in the area of our giving. This is the only place in Scripture where God says, “Test me,” promising to pour out blessing when we trust Him with our first and best.

Trust is the foundation of our relationship with God. Just as we might entrust our resources to a trusted advisor, God asks us to entrust our lives—and our finances—to Him. The tithe is not about legalism, but about trust: giving the first tenth, not the leftovers, as a declaration that God comes first in every area of life. Jesus affirmed this principle, calling us to seek first the kingdom of God, not just in our giving, but in every pursuit.

We are living in a season where God is clearly on the move—lives are being changed, ministries are growing, and the gospel is reaching new places. Our participation—through our time, our gifts, and our resources—fuels this movement. As we come to the communion table, we remember that our trust is anchored in the cross. God’s love is not in question; it is proven in the sacrifice of Jesus. We are invited to return, to trust, and to walk with Him in every part of our lives.

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Key Takeaways

1. God’s Silence Is Not Absence, But Preparation The 400 years between Malachi and John the Baptist were not wasted; they were a strategic pause, a divine silence that cultivated longing and set the stage for Christ’s arrival. In our own seasons of waiting or silence, God may be preparing us for something greater than we can imagine. His timing is always purposeful, even when it feels like He is distant. [27:22]
2. God’s Heart Is For Relationship, Not Ritual Throughout Malachi, God’s plea is not for empty obedience, but for a return to relationship. He desires trust, intimacy, and genuine love from His people, not just outward compliance or token offerings. When we question God’s love or withhold our hearts, He gently calls us back, reminding us that His love and faithfulness have never changed. [38:26]
3. Trust Is Proven By What We Give First The principle of the tithe is not about a legalistic percentage, but about the posture of our hearts. Giving the first tenth—before anything else—is a tangible act of trust, declaring that God is our provider and priority. When we give God our leftovers, we reveal our desire for control; when we give Him our first, we step into deeper faith and dependence. [44:07]
4. Jesus Calls Us To Integrate Justice, Mercy, and Generosity Jesus affirmed the tithe but challenged the Pharisees to go beyond mere calculation. True faithfulness is holistic: it includes generosity, but also justice, mercy, and faithfulness. Our giving should reflect the character of God, not just the letter of the law, and our lives should be marked by both sacrificial generosity and compassionate action. [46:12]
5. The Cross Is The Ultimate Proof Of God’s Trustworthiness When we struggle to trust God or wonder about His love, we need only look to the cross. Jesus’ sacrifice is the definitive answer to every doubt, the foundation for our trust, and the invitation to return to God with confidence. Our giving, our service, and our worship all flow from the assurance that God has already given us everything in Christ. [51:41]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[21:56] - Scriptural Affirmation: Joshua 1:8
[25:38] - The Power and Purpose of Silence
[27:22] - 400 Years Between Malachi and Christ
[28:41] - Malachi: God’s Last Word Before the Silence
[29:48] - Empires Rise, God Prepares
[30:29] - Prophets, Questions, and God’s Heart
[31:55] - “How Have You Loved Us?”
[33:34] - The Quality of Our Sacrifice
[35:00] - Malachi 3: The Call to Return
[36:27] - The Only Place God Says “Test Me”
[37:55] - God’s Unchanging Desire for Trust
[41:21] - A Story of Trust and Relationship
[42:26] - Entrusting Our Resources to God
[44:07] - The Meaning of the First Tenth
[45:42] - Jesus, the Tithe, and the Heart
[47:07] - Seek First the Kingdom
[48:24] - Signs of God’s Movement Today
[50:34] - Global Impact: Bible Translation
[51:41] - Communion: Remembering the Cross
[57:00] - Foundation Sunday and Legacy Giving
[65:07] - Becoming Partners in Ministry
[66:00] - Final Blessing: Trust and Walk With God

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Malachi 3:6-10 (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?’ Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. 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.”

Matthew 23:23 (ESV) — > “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.”

Joshua 1:8 (ESV) — > “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”

Observation Questions

In Malachi 3:6-10, what specific actions does God accuse His people of, and what does He invite them to do in response?
According to the sermon, what kind of sacrifices were the people bringing to God, and why was this a problem? [[33:34]]
In Matthew 23:23, what does Jesus say the Pharisees are missing, even though they are tithing carefully?
What is the one area in Scripture where God invites His people to “test” Him, and what does He promise if they do? [[36:27]]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think God chose to be silent for 400 years after Malachi? What might He have been preparing His people for during that time? [[30:29]]
What does it reveal about God’s heart that He says, “Return to me, and I will return to you,” instead of responding with anger? [[38:26]]
How does giving God the “first tenth” (tithe) demonstrate trust, compared to giving what’s left over? [[44:07]]
Why does Jesus connect tithing with justice, mercy, and faithfulness? What does this say about the kind of giving God desires? [[46:12]]

Application Questions

The sermon described God’s 400 years of silence as a “pregnant pause” meant to stir longing and readiness. Have you ever experienced a season where God felt silent? Looking back, can you see any ways He was preparing you for something? [[30:29]]
God’s people in Malachi’s day questioned His love and withheld their best. Are there areas in your life where you are holding back from God—whether your time, resources, or trust? What would it look like to “return” to Him in those areas? [[31:55]]
The principle of the tithe is about giving God the first and best, not the leftovers. What are some practical steps you could take to put God first in your finances, time, or talents? What obstacles make this difficult for you? [[44:07]]
Jesus calls us to integrate justice, mercy, and generosity. Is your giving (of money, time, or service) marked by compassion and faithfulness, or does it sometimes feel like just a duty? How could you make your generosity more relational and heartfelt? [[46:12]]
The sermon shared stories of God moving in the church and community. How might your participation—through serving, giving, or praying—help fuel what God is doing right now? Is there a specific ministry or need you feel drawn to support? [[49:32]]
When you struggle to trust God, the sermon encouraged looking to the cross as proof of His love. Is there a current situation where you need to remember God’s faithfulness? How can the truth of Jesus’ sacrifice help you trust Him more? [[51:41]]
The invitation is to “return, trust, and walk with Him in every part of our lives.” What is one area this week where you want to intentionally take a step of trust with God? How can your group support you in this? [[01:06:00]]

Sermon Clips

I want to ask you a question. What made God play the Quiet game for 400 years? He did radio silence for 400 years. So you have 39 books in your Old Testament, and the last one is named Malachi. Malachi just means messenger of the Lord. And so Malachi will end and God will go radio silent for 400 years. We're going to talk about why here in just a moment, but I want to try to help you understand what is 400 years. What does that feel like? [00:27:14]

The book of Malachi is the last word of the Lord until John the Baptist will begin speaking the words of the Lord. And John the Baptist is actually part of Malachi's prophecy, that he makes it very, very clear that there is a messenger that's going to come that will bring fire and all the things that John the Baptist would bring. But the book of Malachi is really God's last word before he goes radio silent until the time of Christ. It is the closure of the Old Testament until, you know, that's an aerial shot of the Jordan river, where John the Baptist will come and begin baptizing people and preparing the way of the Lord. [00:28:44]

I've heard one of my, I'll never forget one of my seminary professors said it this way, sort of like a pregnant pause in music, a strategic sesaura. God is going to stop speaking in order to, to create a hunger for John the Baptist, to set the stage for the Son of God coming into the world. [00:30:49]

So the first one is simply God announces, I have loved you in the people of God. This is sad. And I see it still in the world. The people of God say, really, how? Because we don't feel loved by you, God. I mean, that's their posture. Malachi says, I have loved you, I have chosen you, says the Lord. And yet here's your hard hearted reply. How, God, how? And so God has to answer the question for them, reminding them, well, I chose you and Jacob and the 12 tribes and the temple, and I've always wanted to be with you. So return to me, and I will return to you. [00:31:46]

A prophet is pleading with God's people to return to the God who loves them. And yet they say, well, we don't feel it. And so, God, if you love us, you're going to have to do a better job of showing us. [00:32:49]

The quality of sacrifice matters, and you're not bringing your best. And the people say, well, what do you mean? Well, they're bringing, like, blind animals and diseased animals, the ones that you would put to sleep anyway because they're in misery. And they were offering those animals to God as though he would be pleased with it. And he says, I'm supposed to be honored by that. You know, the precedent early on is you bring your best. You're not bringing your best. [00:33:34]

So the whole book of Malachi are. Is this dialogue between God and his people. Here's one example. When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? Come on. When you sacrifice lame or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor. See how he feels about it. And I'm God, and this is what you're bringing. Would he be pleased with you? Just a human entity? Would he Accept you. And this is God speaking through the prophet Malachi. [00:34:22]

This is the one time God says, test me. We are not to test him except in this. This is the one invitation in 66 books of the Bible where God says, put me to the test. I want to be on trial. See if I don't deliver. Test me, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be enough room to store it. [00:36:32]

If I had to title this sermon, it would just be one word, trust. Because what God is inviting you to do in a lot of ways is trust him. Now, where did I get this from. Look what he says, I don't change. People change. But God says repeatedly, I don't change. I stay the same. Culture changes, but God says, I don't change. And that's important. [00:37:40]

We often mistake the motives of God. But he really hasn't changed since the book of Genesis. What did he want from Adam and Eve? Just to be trusted, just to be loved, just to have a friendship, just to be able to walk in the cool of the Garden of Eden with his friends that he made. And it all got messed up there in the Garden of Eden. And then God, through the Jewish people, through people that he loved, is constantly trying to have a relationship with his people. And so right here, what he's really inviting is an intimate relationship. [00:38:23]

It's all God has ever wanted, what dad had with Reggie Brown to be trusted. See, when Reggie was in the hospital, he wanted the man he trusted to come to him. And dad was going to go to the one that he loved. I don't know what you think about God, but we sometimes image him on a good day when we love each other and when we build relationships like this. All God wants in. Malachi, what is it? I just want you to return to me. Return to me and I will return to you. [00:41:21]

But Israel's a mess. The temple's a mess. You're bringing diseased animals. There's no tithe. Which means we can't really reflect who I am to the culture. So I just want to make sure you know those are God's motives. Right? How have you loved this? The people say, God says, I need you to trust me like you once did. [00:41:56]

Point number two, though, is God does expect in this trust. He expects us to entrust our money to him. Now, I've thought about this a lot this week. There's a picture of a financial advisor that I just love in Houston. I had all three of his kids in my youth ministry. I love them all. I gave some money when I sold the house to Gil, and it was so easy to give it to him because Gil's good at what he does. And I trusted him with money that God had blessed me with. And I'm really glad I did, because he took care of it. We would trust a human and we won't trust God. See, it's about trust. [00:42:22]

If you could give a chunk of money to Warren Buffett, wouldn't you do it? I would if I was on a first name base. Hey, Warren, I got some money. Would you take care of it? He, you know, I would think that's about as safe as an investment as you could find. Right? And we think God's not trustworthy the humans that we all trust. Listen, bring the tithe, the whole tithe into the storehouse. That there may be food in my house. Test me. Test Warren Buffet of heaven. Who transcends him, who sees the market trends coming, who can see the future and you can't. God says, test me in this. [00:43:05]

Why, here's what a tithe means. A tithe just means a tenth. But I need to make sure you understand it means the first tenth. And I'll show you in the Old Testament and in the New Testament why the first tenth is really important to God. I have tried many times to give him the last tenth, like spend 90%. And if there's some leftover at the end of the month, then I could give him that. You know why that doesn't work? Because there's no trust in that. None. Right? Not only does it not work most months, I would spend 100% of it. But if you're trying to spend 90 and see if there's some left for God, then that means you are in control of everything you're doing and you're not holding God's hand at all, not putting him to the test. [00:44:05]

So did Jesus do away with the tithe as a concept, or did he say, I love the tithe, but you need to put your heart into the tithe too and reflect me with your mercy and your justice and faithfulness. But notice he doesn't say don't tithe anymore. He doesn't say it. He never said it, because he knows that the Old Testament always has mattered and always will matter, and he came to complete it and to bring fulfillment to it, not do away with it. [00:46:12]

It's harder, friends. I know it is. I've lived it. It's harder to trust God with the first 10% than it is to wait and see if you have enough at the end. Am I right? If you've ever tried it, you know that I'm speaking the truth. [00:46:44]

Seek first the kingdom of God, young people. Seek him first. I just. You can apply that in just about any way you want. Seek him first with the time that you have. Seek him first in your marriage, seek him first in your parenting, if you play sports. Seek him first. Play for him, not for yourself. Seek the glory of Jesus first. And when it comes to your money, seek him first. Take your first portion and give it to him, is what the Bible has always said. [00:47:20]

But the rumor is Aslan's on the moon and he's going to thaw it out, and winter is going to turn into spring because he's here and he's near. And I'm so proud to tell you, on behalf of our staff, on behalf of our church, that I see Aslan on the move right here at Grace Commons, this second through fifth grade thing, being able to build kind of a youth ministry for our children's ministry in the middle of the week. We got it staffed out with great people and great volunteers, and it's going to be awesome. [00:48:30]

There is a movement, ASLAN is on the move in the youth culture in Boulder, and I can see the future. It's going to be a spirit filled thing and we're going to get to watch it. And Dave Palmer was so excited to tell me a few weeks ago when they kicked off the annex that that room, the chapel was more full than it's been in 10 years. That's a good thing. [00:49:35]

And I'm so excited to tell you lastly that there is a Bible that's being translated to its finish. And by the end of this year, a group in an Arabic country, I can't tell you which one, but through our mission partners, is going to finish a Bible for a group of people, 3 million of them that have never had a Bible. And some of your mission partners, way before I got here, that you guys have been investing in for a very long time. By December 31, this Bible will be presented in its finished product. And we're going to celebrate that next November when they're home. They want to celebrate it here with you to show you this Bible that has come to be through their missionary efforts. So truly, ASLAN is on the move. [00:50:12]

Friends, today, what I would love for you to do is just spend some time reminding Jesus that he won our trust on the cross. Like that question in Malachi, teeing up that John the Baptist is going to come. That. That question. How do you know, friends, this side. Meaning how do you know that God loves you this side of the cross? Friends, we have no reason to ever ask that question because we look back in the rear view mirror and see Jesus on the cross. That's how you know God loves you. Why else would he do that? He didn't do it because it was fun to watch. No father wants to watch his son sacrifice. But he did it for you and for me, so that we could return to him. [00:51:18]

Friends, leave this place and return to God and He will return to you. Trust him with everything about your life. He has earned our trust. Jesus on the cross, the ultimate demonstration of it. Let's leave this place and walk with him and trust. Amen. [01:06:00]

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