Description
Returning to God’s Grace
Have you ever felt lost after making a mistake? This reflection on Joel 2:13 explores how God … (visit YouTube for more)
Transcript
Have you ever really blown it and then not really known what to do with yourself? This is a common experience, especially for the conscientious Christian. Fortunately for us, God has a solution for that predicament. Let’s meditate today on Joel chapter two verse 13. And rend your hearts and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and he relents over disaster.
God says, all we need to do is to come back to him. That tearing of our hearts rather than our garments, means that we are humbling ourselves before him. We are not necessarily having to go through any particular routine to sacrifice, to punish ourselves as we so often are inclined to do.
No, he’s saying, come to me with your open heart. Give your heart to me, and I will mend it. Return to me, and find me merciful and gracious.
Because that’s how God treats us, isn’t it? God isn’t here to punish us. He sent Jesus to take the punishment for us. Yes, there are always consequences of sin, whether that be internal or external, but as far as God’s concerned, he forgives us completely.
He allows us to go through the consequences of sin, but as between us and him, there’s no damage to our relationship, if we return to him, if we repent. And his anger is slow. He isn’t going to smite us because we’ve done something wrong.
The disaster that he might otherwise have sent on us for being wicked rebellious sinners, he relents of it when we come to him recognising that we are sinful people and we cannot make ourselves righteous in our own efforts. God has done it all for us through the work of Jesus Christ.
So if you are feeling that guilt, that wretchedness, my friend, just come to him with your heart outstretched, and say, Lord, I love you and I thank you for your forgiveness.
