Malachi brought words from God of punishment that was coming for some.  “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.” (Malachi 4:1)  But those who feared God were promised something much better.  “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.” (Malachi 4:2)  Fear of God does not mean to be scared of Him, but to honor and give the proper reverence to Him and to His word.  The Psalmist also talks about blessings that are received by those who fear God.  “He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.” (Psalm 103:10-13)

Today’s reading: Malachi 1-4