Return to the Lord

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. Malachi 3:6-9

Return to the Lord
The Lord is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is immovable and unshaken by our attempts to throw him off his game. His nature is love and his desire is that everyone turn from their sin, repent, and believe. He sends his Holy Spirit to you again with the message, “Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful. He is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” That you would not turn from him, but that you would know his love and mercy and live with him forever, he needed to change everything. He undoes the power of death and transforms the hold every one of his enemies has on the creation and upon you. In the death of Jesus, the ancient serpent, the devil, is crushed, and death is transformed into a sleep. In that new life, put away sin and wickedness and return to your God. Remain steadfast in his Word. In his Word is safety and life. In his Word preached, he binds you together. Thanks be to God for his work among us.