Malachi 4:2 “But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall.”

This is yet another statement of the benefits of fearing God rather than fearing anything else. This is a fearful world we live in, and the devil is very much a fear monger. The antidote isn’t denying circumstances, it is saying, “but God is greater.” It all comes down to perspective. For an ant, the curb at the side of the street is a mighty cliff, whereas we hardly pay attention to it. God values us far more than He does ants, but our perspective isn’t much different from theirs, when compared to God’s. Amazingly small things can make huge differences in how we view the world, precisely because our faith is so small. The song, “He’s Alive,” by Don Francisco, is a good illustration of how we should be looking at things. It is told from the perspective of Peter, and deals with his thoughts and emotions from right after the crucifixion to after Jesus appeared to him personally. The point is that for Peter, knowing that Jesus was alive and he was forgiven made everything else fade into insignificance. Our problem is that we fail to appreciate what a big deal it really is that Jesus is risen and we are forgiven. Understanding what a big deal that really is is what enables people to go to martyrdom singing! As it says in Hebrews 12:4, “You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.” We become experts at “sweating the small stuff,” instead of understanding the magnificence of God’s grace toward us.

This is dead on target for me this morning, and the Lord has just given me a blessed time of repentance. I’ve spent the last several years telling people to get their eyes off of themselves and onto Christ, yet I have failed to stand in that truth myself. It doesn’t matter what the immediate difficulties are, Jesus is alive and His forgiveness is available to all who will receive it! I have failed to dance like a calf released from its stall, rather choosing to mull over difficulties. Instead, I need to be focused on praise and worship, because my God is far greater than everything else put together. I need to “rejoice, be ever joyful,” as He led me to say in my translation of the Japanese song that is this verse set to music. Anything less is failing to appreciate Him for who and what He is.

Father, thank You for this time of repentance this morning. I certainly needed it! Thank You for all You are doing in and around us. Thank You for giving us such favor yesterday with the owner of the land the church building stands on, that he set such a low price. I pray that all the church members would be encouraged by this evidence of Your provision. Help me come along side them where they are in their faith to encourage them, without allowing them to pull my faith down. Help us all see things as You do, so that we may indeed rejoice in You and allow Your joy to be our strength, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!