Joel 2:12-13
“Now, therefore,” says the Lord, “Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm.“
Joel 2:12-13 NKJV
Verses 12 & 13 are really, really, really good news that God is gracious and merciful. The Holy God of the universe whom we have sinned against is gracious and merciful. He is slow to anger and He is abounding. He’s overflowing with steadfast love. He relents over disaster which means He doesn’t pour out the judgment and the wrath we deserve.
There are many instances when there is a call for repentance. Here the prophet Joel is not only calling for the nation to turn away from sin but is also reminding them that God is faithful. That is why He is offering His hand of forgiveness towards them.
The reminder here is that despite our sin, God is faithful to forgive when we come to Him. Sin is always going to be something that we as Christians are going to struggle with. However, it is not something that holds us captive anymore because Jesus's death on the cross covered our sin.
Joel is also reminding us that there is nothing we can offer that can cover our sin. Jesus is asking for a true repentant heart that is open to His forgiveness and grace. It is a simple and yet profound task for us to come to the realization that we are weak and in need of a loving Savior. Trust in His faithful and loving grace to lead and guide us to follow after Him each and every day. We are no longer slaves to sin. Christ's work on the cross offers us a place in which we are able to come to Him with our sins, lay them before His feet, and accept His forgiveness.
The "day of the Lord" was used by many prophets in the days of Israel. It was synonymous with the final judgement, the time when God would return and make all enemies his footstool and restore order in the world.
Joel warns of this day soon to come. Yet, he also hints at possible grace for those who will turn from there ways and follow the Lord. This grace was demonstrated by God when He became flesh incarnate as Jesus. Rather than wiping out the earth He gave us the greatest demonstration of love.
The dreaded day of the Lord was postponed and replaced with an age of grace. But do not be fooled into thinking that there will be no day of reckoning. There will be a return and when that happens, Jesus will separate the sheep from the goats and cast away those who are evil. We will eventually face our Creator either in the day of His return or when we pass from this life to the next. We must live with the conviction that we will indeed be judged and our behavior matters.
The condition of our hearts is important. Do not be caught before the Lord unprepared to account for the life you've lived.
God pleasures in renewing, changing, restoring, redeeming, saving, transforming. God is delighted when we turn from our sin with fasting, weeping, and mourning. This is in one sense a picture of salvation. Like we experience forgiveness from God the moment we turn from our sin and ourselves and replace our trust in Jesus as Savior, Lord of our lives!!!
Father, thank You for this day and Your amazing mercy and grace to walk in it. Lord, let Your abundant blessings be my friend and family's portion today. Lord, thank You for the book of Joel, which bears witness of Your goodness and grace, to all who will trust in Your Word. Lord, we pray that You would help us to make our outward life a demonstration of a changed, inner life, which trusts You implicitly, in thought, word, deed and motive. Lord, grant to us, young and old alike, the wisdom to listen to You and to turn back from going our own way. Lord, use us to be the light of Your love to those who You send our way.
Father, we love You. Amen !
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