Verse of the Day 8/10

Verse of the Day 8/10

Malachi 4:2

Holman Christian Standard Bible

2 But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings, and you will go out and playfully jump like calves from the stall.

I read today's verse in my devotions this morning as the sun was coming up after several days of rain, storms and flooding.  The sun was a welcome sight and it will help warm things back up, dry things back out and bring new growth.  Many will be heading out to enjoy summer activities once again, I can picture kids and adults playfully jumping around at parks in yards or at the beach.

The verse comes from the last chapter of the Old Testament after which there would be 400 years of silence from the prophets, spiritual darkness.  But this last chapter points to the return of the sun, in the form of the Son.

Step back and think how important the sun is to us.  We often think of it's warmth, it's light that provides life, but how often do we consider gravity that holds the solar system in place, revolving around the sun.  Now, think of what Jesus means to us as Christians.  Charles Spurgeon helps us as he writes:

Jesus, like the sun, is . . .
  the center and soul of all things,
  the fullness of all good,
  the lamp that lights us,
  the fire that warms us,
  the magnet that guides and controls us.

Jesus is the source and fountain of all . . .
   life,
   beauty,
   fruitfulness,
   and strength.

We'll close with the Doxology, praising God, praising Jesus the sun of righteousness, from whom all blessings flow.

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heav'nly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.

Blessings,

Mike

Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV

Malachi 4

English Standard Version

The Great Day of the Lord

4 [a] "For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. 3 And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the Lord of hosts.

4 "Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel.

5 "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. 6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction."