Word for Wednesday
But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in His wings, and ye shall go forth and grow up as calves of the stall. Malachi 4:2
As a boy growing up on a farm, it never ceased to amaze my siblings and me how shy our neighbour’s cows were of us. In our own pasture, we played among the cows and played with their calves. They were accustomed to our presence, and allowed us to pat them, and even to climb onto their backs. Our neighbour’s pasture was next to ours, and often we would cross through it to reach favourite places along the brook that ran through both properties. In our neighbour’s pasture, which had several large, irregular patches of trees, we would come upon a herd of cows. At our appearance, they would wheel and dash away, remaining at a distance from us and watching us with nervous, suspicious eyes. We could never get anywhere near to them. What was the difference in the two herds of cattle? The difference, I believe, is because our herd was composed of ‘calves of the stall’, and our neighbour’s cattle were not. Just as being ‘calves of the stall’ makes a huge difference to cattle, so too does it make a difference to people.
Calves of the stall had an enormous advantage over calves left to fend for themselves in the fields. Calves of the stall were kept in the barn and tended with loving care several times a day. They were groomed, fed with grain and the best of the hay, and protected from enemies that would harrass or hurt them. Because they were in constant contact with people, they were not afraid of us, but rather looked forward to our appearance, and came quickly when we called them. Calves of the stall are just like Christians, who have come to know and appreciate the presence and the care of our Lord.
Christians have a huge advantage over the unsaved. We are under our Master’s watchful eye, as He provides us with His protection and lavishes His care on us. As the unsaved feed on the wild and evil things of the world, they are spiritually unhealthy and stunted. They are at the mercy of their enemy, the devil. But God cares for, and protects His own. The unsaved do not know the Master’s voice, and flee when He tries to approach them. But the Christian has spent time in His presence, and knows of His loving kindness, and therefore rejoices when He draws near.
As calves of the stall, we have all that is the best in this life and the next. As calves of the stall, we ought never to act as the wild calves of the field. -Jim MacIntosh