Generosity and Provision
In Malachi 3:10, we encounter a profound invitation from God: “’Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,’ 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 room enough to store it.’”
The "storehouse" in ancient Israel was a place in the temple where tithes and offerings were kept, primarily to provide for the priests and the needy. By instructing the Israelites to bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, God taught them about stewardship and caring for people in their community. Their generosity was a way of loving and serving those around them.
If you’ve ever tried to give when you felt strapped for resources, you may have discovered this truth already: giving is an act of trust. When we give, we are making a choice to believe that God will provide for our every need no matter what. God challenges His people to trust Him enough to give wholeheartedly, promising that in return, He would open the "floodgates of heaven."
Today, this verse prompts us to examine our own generosity. Are we holding back, or are we trusting God with all we have? We get to bring our whole tithe to God, not out of obligation but out of faith. We get to say ‘yes’ to God’s invitation to experience His provision in everything, and even provide for others.
True Repentance
Sometimes life can feel like one big performance. We can get caught up in pleasing people, becoming successful, and attaining our greatest dreams. While those things are all good, what happens when we fail?
Most people are hard on themselves when they don't live up to their own expectations, or the expectations others have set for them. Can you remember a time you messed up? Did you feel guilt, shame, or even condemnation?
God’s Word talks about this very thing. That’s because God knows that we are not perfect, and that we will mess up in life. But when Paul talks about sorrow that comes from God, he talks about it very differently.
In 2 Corinthians, Paul says that godly sorrow doesn’t lead to condemnation, shame, or guilt, but rather it leads to repentance and restoration. When we look to Jesus, we are reminded that He took on all of our shame and guilt on the cross. This means we don’t have to carry the shame that Jesus already carried.
When we mess up, our first ...