The Lord says, ‘Return to me… But you say…

"'Return to Me and I will return to you,' says the Lord of host. But you say, 'How shall we return?'" Malachi 3:7. How do we respond to God's call to repent? How do we respond to His rebuke? Malachi rebukes the sin of the people, saying, "You have wearied the LORD with your words. But you say, "How have we work wearied Him?" By saying,
"Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and He delights in them." Or by asking, "Where is the God of justice?" Malachi 2:17.

These eight passages in the book of Malachi expose our natural resistance to God's rebuke, 1:2, 6, 7, 13; 2:14, 17; 3:7, 8, 13. These controversies with the Lord reveal the many ways that we deny our sin, justify ourselves, accuse the Lord, and hide behind casuistry (casuistry means clever but false reasoning in matters of ethics).

As you read through the book of Malachi again, listen to the rebuke of the Holy Spirit and let us humble ourselves in true repentance as we come to worship.