For you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves. (Malachi 4:2)
Oh, what a word of encouragement we have before us today! The promise is for all those who revere the name of the Most High God; in response to their reverence, God will shine His light of grace upon them, and they will go forth joyfully, frolicking like well-fed calves released from their stalls after a long winter. The reverence of our Redeemer will bring us multiple rewards of both healing and health that will not only meet us in our deepest place of need but will far surpass anything we could have ever imagined.
Our Lord Jesus, the Son of God, is rightly compared to the sun, for from Him and in Him is the eternal Light of all creation. In fact, the revelation of John from the Isle of Patmos indicates that Christians are “clothed with the sun” (Revelation 12:1). It is Christ’s glorious, righteous robe that adorns us, not only for our justification, but for our sanctification also . . . and ultimately, when we cross the Jordan, for our glorification as well. Being clothed in the robe of His righteousness brings healing to all that is broken in us, and that healing sends us out as happy, healthy, well-fed calves to jubilantly witness for the advancement of His kingdom and His glory.
Those who revere His name are led beside still waters and into green pastures; and when we enter that season when we go forth into the valley of the shadow of death, we shall not fear anything, because the Almighty will be with us every step of the way.
But notice the promise for those who revere His name: We will frolic like well-fed calves. Isn’t the picture of that promise particularly encouraging to you today? We will exult in the freedom that comes to us through faith in Jesus. This freedom is not from an earthly stall, but from our bondage to sin, Satan, and death.
The witness of well-fed calves is rooted in the joy of knowing that we have been set free from everything that enslaved us in the past. We have been set free from the stall of the sin that so easily entangles us. We have been cleansed from all unrighteousness by the blood of the Lamb of God, and, by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, we now have the ability to live a life that is glorifying to God and good for us and all those with whom we come in contact.
Regardless of where this finds you today, rejoice in your redemption, knowing that you have been raised from death to life. Go forth joyfully into God’s perfect plan and purpose for your life, even in all your imperfections, knowing that God has nailed every sin and shortcoming to the cross, freeing you to frolic like a well-fed calf as you witness for the glory and grace of our Savior.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 