Pastor's Points - October 2026

Church Family,

“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.” — Malachi 3:7

Over the past weeks, we have been walking through the book of Malachi under the theme “RETURN: Me to You.” Malachi is a book about God’s people who had gradually drifted from Him. 

They had not necessarily abandoned their religion. They were still worshiping. They were still bringing sacrifices. They were still going through the motions. But their hearts had wandered. God’s words in Malachi 3:7 get to the heart of the matter:

“From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them."

Their spiritual condition had not happened overnight. There had been a pattern of turning away. One generation had drifted, and the next generation had continued down the same path. But notice what God says next: “Return to me, and I will return to you.” What a gracious invitation! God does not simply expose their unfaithfulness. He calls them home. Spiritual drift can happen slowly, but returning to God can begin with a single step of repentance and obedience. So as we reflect on Malachi, perhaps each of us should ask:

Where do I need to return?

Return to God
Our first and greatest return must be to God Himself.
Has your relationship with God become routine? Has prayer become occasional? Has God’s Word become something you hear on Sunday rather than something that shapes your life throughout the week? Returning to God means turning our hearts back toward Him, repenting of sin, renewing our commitment to His Word, and seeking Him above everything else.

Return to Your Marriage
Perhaps some of us need to return to our spouse.
Return to the commitment we made. Return to faithfulness. Return to praying together, listening, speaking with kindness, and putting our spouse ahead of ourselves. A marriage can drift just like our relationship with God can drift. Sometimes it happens little by little. Perhaps God is calling some of us to return and once again pursue the husband or wife He has given us.

Return to the Church
Perhaps some of us need to return to our commitment to the church.
Maybe that means becoming faithful in worship again, reconnecting with your Life Group, serving, encouraging someone who is struggling, or repairing a broken relationship.
We are not simply people who attend church. We are members of the body of Christ.

Return to Faithfulness
And perhaps there are other areas where God is calling you to return. Return to holiness, integrity, generosity, serving, prayer, Scripture, or evangelism.

Maybe you simply need to return to a commitment you once made but have gradually neglected.
The warning of Malachi 3:7 is real: “You have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them.” But the warning is immediately followed by an invitation: “Return to me, and I will return to you.”

That is the grace of God.
The Lord does not call us to return because He has given up on us. He calls us to return because He is gracious and faithful.
What a wonderful invitation! Return to Him if you need to and get in right relationship with your loving, forgiving, and gracious Heavenly Father. And remember the promise attached to His command “Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts.”

Our God is a God who calls wandering people home. So, if you have wandered, don’t wait another day. Return to your loving Father, knowing that He is gracious, faithful, and ready to receive you. 

I love you and I love being your pastor.