"Faithful Love" December 4 Readings: Joel 1:1-2:17, 2 Peter 2, Psalm 136:15–21, Proverbs 29:22–23

 

 Through the Bible in 2021

Bible Readings:  Joel 1:1-2:17, 2 Peter 2, Psalm 136:15–21, Proverbs 29:22–23  

Daily Devotional:  Faithful Love

Joel tells the entire story of sin and redemption, a microcosm of Israel's history, of God's grace and restoration toward them. In chapter 1, Joel calls Israel to task for their sin, and explains the consequences of that sin. Israel was suffering greatly, and they often wondered why. They thought that since they were the chosen people of God that he should shield them from trouble.

But God was allowing them to suffer the consequences of their wicked sin.

Tell your children about it,
and let your children tell their children,
and their children the next generation.
 What the devouring locust has left,
the swarming locust has eaten;
what the swarming locust has left,
the young locust has eaten;
and what the young locust has left,
the destroying locust has eaten. Joel 1:3-4

Sin is not only an offense to God, but it destroys us. Like waves of locusts, it destroys the life that God has intended for us. Israel thought that they could embrace sin, idolatry, immorality, greed, and other sins and still experience the blessing of God and the joys of his presence. But sin doesn't work like that. It devastates and destroys.

But there is a solution to sin. God opens his heart to repentant sinners. 

Even now—
this is the Lord’s declaration—
turn to me with all your heart,
with fasting, weeping, and mourning.
 Tear your hearts,
not just your clothes,
and return to the Lord your God.
For he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger, abounding in faithful love,
and he relents from sending disaster.  Joel 2:12-13

What a powerful statement. "Tear your hearts, not just your clothes." Real repentance - a heart of sorrow over sin, one that turns to God with a full, pure, and humble heart. Our great blessing is that God is not hard-hearted or vindictive. He responds to repentant sinners with grace. In fact, he initiates grace by seeking us in his love. He is faithful and good, always seeking reconciliation rather than judgment. 

Verse 19 (dipping into tomorrow's reading) tells us the end result of Israel's repentance (and ours). 

Look, I am about to send you grain, new wine, and olive oil. You will be satiated with them, and I will no longer make you a disgrace among the nations. Joel 2:19

He restores the repentant. 

It is my desire to walk consistently with God - when I consider what Christ has done for me, what else can I do? But I have more than 50 years of history as a Christian and I know who I am. Like Israel, I wander. I fail. I sin. And knowing who I am and what I do, it is a great comfort to know that the God who made me, the God who saved me, is a God who loves me, who is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, rich in faithful love. I wish that I did not presume on that grace as often as I do, but I am thankful that my God is love, that the Blood of his Son is forever powerful against sin, and that he never abandons me, even in my depths. 

Thank you, Father, for your amazing Grace. Thank you for the Blood of your Son that cleanses and restores me. 

Consider God's Word:

Which of the readings spoke most powerfully to you today?
Is the Spirit of God moving you to repent of something you are doing, to begin something new, or to change something about your life as a result of your readings? What?

If it seems as though our "think and pray" section tells you to take time to reflect and thank God for your salvation and redemption about two or three times a week - you are not wrong! There is no story more powerful and nothing more worth reflection!