3-27-2025

Good Morning All,

    Malachi 4:2; ^“But 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.” 

    We are at one of the times of the year that I really enjoy on the farm.  The slow warm up is beginning.  The sun feels warm even on a brisk day.  Those who still do calving are going or will be soon.  There is very little in life that is more fun to watch than young calves on a warm day when they can be playful.  For those of you who have never watched it, please find a YouTube video or something like that.  It won’t be exactly like it, but it is close.

    The funny thing is that all the calves need is a sunny day and for one of them to take the lead.  Being out in the fresh air and seeing it unfold is a wondrous event to behold.  It usually starts with one calf that, for whatever reason, will begin to hop and prance about, maybe even butting into a second calf.  Then a second calf joins in and suddenly the whole batch is going at it when it happens.  One of the calves suddenly sprints off, tail in the air, running as fast as it can, and the others follow.  This is an amazingly fun event to watch (unless they are headed for an open gate).  The calves are simply enjoying the day in the only fashion that they know how.

    The calves know nothing else than this playful time.  Their enjoyment, their prancing and hopping all show such a carefree and contented existence.  The life they are leading is the life that is content.

    The prophet Malachi is warning of God’s final judgment which will befall all unbelievers.  But to believers, it will be a wonderful, joyful event.  We all have felt the warming and healing nature of a warm sun upon us after a long cold stretch.  We can all go out and just lie down and bask in its warmth.  After a few days we begin to feel the restored nature of our soul.  We are well-fed by God’s grace and mercy.  So, we are free and encouraged to savor it.  We can frolic about just like those calves who know of no care or worry for we have no care or worry which God has not solved or dissipated for us.

    This is what God grace means.  When I use the terms “mercy” and “grace,” I think of mercy as “not getting what we deserve.”  This is our sin being forgiven.  But when I think of “grace,” I think of receiving what I don’t deserve.  I don’t deserve a loving spouse or children.  I don’t deserve a loving and supportive congregation or community, but I have them.  We all have those things which we do not deserve but God, in his wonderful grace, has given to us.  So go and frolic; (maybe you are like me and need to imagine more than actually do but do it!!) enjoy God’s blessings and revel in them.  Look at what you have and say thank you with a grateful heart.  For above all you were given mercy, and you can’t beat that!

Dear Father, your grace flows over us like a river with a depth and breadth that we cannot even imagine.  Bring our hearts and minds to recognize your wondrous blessings in our lives and to celebrate, to frolic and savor all that you give us.  In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret