When God answers the question, "How can we return to You?" we might be surprised when he starts talking about money and giving. When we learn to bring freely what rightfully belongs to Him, we are also learning to lead our hearts into healthy relationship with Him. The 'Tenth Test' is a good way to evaluate where our hearts really are, and to whom (or to what) they really belong. As we learn to trust God in the way we give of our treasure (time, resource, talents, and prayer), our hearts discover freedom from financial idolatry and the joy of partnering  with God's purpose in glorifying His name in the earth.

God is committed to transforming us as His holy people. When we encounter His presence, we shouldn't be surprised when we find ourselves feeling undone, powerless in comparison to Him. Like a refining fire, God melts our hearts, purifying us as he reveals sin we didn't even realize we were carrying. He makes us pleasing to Himself, even as the gospel also pierces our hearts, testifying to the sinfulness of sin and setting us free to live differently. Finally, God protects us through His covenant promise made to Abraham and extended to us through Jesus Christ. God loves us too much to leave us in our sin; He is committed to removing it from our lives and separating us from its destructive effects.

Jesus' body was lying dead in a stone tomb. What had become of all His confident words? What had become of all the hopes and dreams of the women who watched the stone roll into place? But Jesus had also said His death was necessary, and promised He would be raised up on the third day. As we celebrate Easter Sunday, we remember that, "What the law could not do... God did" (Romans 8:3). The same Jesus who declared, "Your sins are forgiven," (Luke 5) and, "Your faith has saved you," (Luke 7) can actually do these things! If Jesus is alive, then hope is alive with Him!

"Where is the God of justice?" The question is asked in culture after culture as people face the realities of evil in the world. Sometimes the question can be thrown back at God when we feel challenged by His word regarding our own sin. "Why would God care so much about my sin if He doesn't seem to care about the sin all around me?" God's answer to 'the justice question' may surprise us: "The Lord you seek will suddenly come to His temple." Then, when Jesus comes riding into Jerusalem in fulfillment of this prophecy through Malachi, where does He go? To His temple, His own house. He comes to bring peace; He comes in triumph; and He comes with great purpose. And He's not afraid to turn over tables of idolatry in our lives. So, where is the God of justice? He's very present among His people, and He's ready to build a new culture - in and through us.

Does God care who we marry? Is divorce always wrong? Why are there such strong statements in the Scriptures regarding this topic? These are no small questions, and God has much to say. In part 4 of Big Questions, we look at Malachi 2:10-16 as we dive into the question: What does God think about marriage and divorce? The reasons God thinks the way He does may be surprising to us! God loves the next generation, and He knows just how much the influence of marriages all around them - not only the relationship between their own parents - are shaping their faith.

What does God think about truth? This is the question in Part 3 of our Malachi: Big Questions series. As Malachi's challenge to the people of God in his day continues, he addresses the priests, the leaders who are meant to represent God and His character in a truthful way before the people. Their failure to represent Him well before the people was having negative effects on future generations. Today, it's as important as it has ever been that the church of Jesus Christ embraces our role and calling to take God's truth to heart, to teach truthfully, and to turn to our wonderful Savior, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

As we continue forward in Malachi, we're asking the Big Question: What Does God Think About Worship? What kind of worship does God desire? The answer is simple: He wants our hearts. He's not after empty ritual, a kind of 'going through the motions' that offers Him our left-overs or our second-best. In fact, He calls that kind of sacrifice 'defiled!' So, how can we bring God worship that honors Him in both our attitude and our action? What sacrifice can we rightly bring to a God who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords? It begins with recognizing Him for who He is.

To a people who have questions about their relationship with God, He has much to say! When we live in a world full of difficulty it can also be difficult to recognize God's love for us, and so He begins His message through Malachi to His people with these four words: "I have loved you." How, exactly? This is what He wants to talk to us about, and His answer reveals much about His covenant promise, His ongoing choice to extend His faithful love to His chosen people.

The surpassing grace of God in us enables us to be an 'above and beyond' people, generously ministering to others in such a way that they overflow with thanksgiving, glorifying God. This kind of generosity, itself inspired by God's 'indescribable' gift of grace extended to us in Christ, also inspires deep affection, building bridges of community even in previously 'unbridgeable,' 'other-side-of-the-tracks' situations. Just as with the Corinthians who first heard Paul's teaching on such generous grace, we too have a decision to make: how will we respond to what we have heard?

God has designed our world with multiplication in mind, and farmers sow seed expecting a multiplied harvest. We're wise to believe Jesus when he says, "Give and it will be given to you... pressed down, shaken together, and running over..." (Luke 6:37). When we learn the kingdom principles of sowing and reaping, that God is more than able to resource a generous people to continue being generous, and that God Himself is our provider, we can also wisely sow with great generosity and with great faith.