Let the priests, who minister to the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar; let them say, “Spare Your people, O LORD, and do not give Your heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule over them. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘ Where is their God?’” Joel 2: 17, NKJV.
Merciful God, how much we need You. We invite You to come and teach us the true meaning of Your Word, in the blessed name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
As we continue with our theme: A Time to Pray, we will look at other parts of this call to repentance, by the prophet Joel, ” ‘ “ 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” ‘ ” (12, 13).
Let us notice a change in the prophet’s call to repentance, “ ‘Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” ‘ At the beginning of our study, two days ago, the idea was that God, had left His people, “Why should they say among the peoples, ‘ Where is their God?’ ” Today, we will begin to look at the other side of the story – it is really God’s people who have abandoned Him! This is what really took place. Can you imagine what their condition would have been, if God, had abandoned them? Can you imagine what would happen to us, if God abandoned us?
You see my friends, that is how insidious and deceitful sin is, the Adversary tempts us to sin, our sins separate us from God, and then He, “the accuser” (Revelation 12: 10), makes it appear as if God is the one who has abandoned us! That is never the case! God is altogether interested in our salvation, not our condemnation! And we are all condemned, without God! He is always ready to save us. One of the problems in our relating to God, is that we usually look at him through human eyes and circumstances. We expect God to say us on our terms – in our sins. God seeks to save us, from our sins (John 5: 14; 8: 11).
Therefore, turning to the Lord, calls for total submission! We need to turn to Him with all our heart! He wants all of you and me. Not because of selfishness on God’s part; but because God, who made us, knows that we cannot serve two Masters simultaneously (Matthew 6: 24). Therefore, He calls for total surrender to His will!
Then He goes even further, He shows us how: “So rend your heart, and not your garments; return to the LORD your God[.]” Be real with God. It is not about an outward show, it is what goes on on the inside (in the heart) that matters. “If you are really sorry for your sins, then show it by allowing Me to replace your rent heart (repentant heart), with a new one.”
Listen to the remedy against sin: “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119: 9-11). Emphasis supplied.
Listen to the repentant sinner’s prayer: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Psalm 51: 10). Emphasis supplied.
Listen to what God has promised: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them” (Ezekiel 36: 26, 27). Emphasis supplied.
Dearest friends, with God, it is heart service that counts. He has not left you. Right now, return to Him with all your heart. He provides both the strength, and the will, for you to do so (Romans 2: 4; Philippians 2: 13). And you will discover, that God is right where you left Him!
NOTE: Some editing has been done to this devotional. If you read it before, you may want to read it again.