“Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “Return to Me with all your heart, And
with fasting, weeping and mourning;
And rend your heart and not your garments.” Now
return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and
compassionate, Slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness And
relenting of evil.
Joel
2:12-13 New American Standard
Bible (NASB)
When it says to “rend
your heart and not your garment”, God is saying to tear the heart instead of
clothing. It was Jewish custom to tear one’s clothes in a time of deep mourning
or distress. But God wants our hearts, He wants inward repentance, not outward
shame. He wants true worship not ritualistic service. That is why He says to
return with ALL your heart. He doesn’t want halfhearted love. He wanted them to
come with fasting, weeping and mourning because they needed to express, to
really “feel” how wrong they had been. They needed to truly mourn over their
sin. That is true repentance. Many are afraid to do this because it would mean
losing face, humiliation. Some also are afraid of God’s wrath, which is
legitimate, but true repentance turns away His wrath. If we will come to Him
openly, wholeheartedly, truly remorseful over our sin, He will relent, He will
have compassion. He will forgive. Return to genuine faith. Make it “real.”
To view a video of this devo, visit my facebook page
at www.facebook.com/evelynbray15
Like my page or subscribe to my blog to receive them
daily!
No comments:
Post a Comment