Freedom

Malachi 4:2 (The Message)

“But for you, sunrise! The sun of righteousness will dawn on those who honor my name, healing radiating from its wings. You will be bursting with energy, like colts frisky and frolicking.”

Have you ever watched colts play? They jump and run and toss their heads and just have fun! It’s clear that they are tasting freedom out in those pastures, and they are loving every minute of it. Sometimes life can get us down. We are doing the right thing, following God, but it doesn’t feel like things are going our way. Maybe we’re in the midst of a trial, and we just can’t see the way out. It’s tempting to think that God has forgotten us or that it will always be this way, but God has promised us so much more.

In Malachi 4:1, God has given us a word on what will happen to the unrighteous when Jesus comes. Now, in verse 2, He tells us what will happen to the righteous. When Jesus comes, we will receive freedom. We will receive healing. This is not just talking about the second coming of Jesus. It’s talking about His first coming, his birth, as well. When Jesus came into the world, He offered us relationship with God. He offered us restoration, freedom from sin, healing from past wounds and hurts. He offered us transformation!

When we step into that freedom we find in our relationship with Christ, we can feel as free as those frolicking colts! And when life gets hard, the promise is that Christ can bring us freedom again and again until we reach the time of His second coming when the healing and freedom He gives to us will last forever! What a promise!

Father, I thank you for your son Jesus Christ. I thank you that because He came into the world, I can have healing and freedom in my life. Help me to step out into the freedom Jesus offers me. When I get discouraged, remind me to receive healing and freedom from you, Father. I know when Jesus comes again that healing sunshine and feeling of freedom will never leave me. Help me to hold to that promise when life gets hard and the world around me seems dark. Thank you, Father, for the light you have provided to all of us through your Son. In Jesus’ name, Amen.