40 Days of GRACE - 16
Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days of GRACE
Day 16 | RETURNING TO THE LORD
40 Days of GRACE
Day 16 | RETURNING TO THE LORD
RETURNING TO THE LORD
Joel 2:13
“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 was one of the many prophets in the Old Testament, and since the prophets are not read very often, here is the message of the prophets in a nutshell: “Repent, stop sinning and return to the Lord God… or else… ”
It happens all the time: God blesses a people and at first they are thankful and full of praise. But over time, they become complacent, accept the blessings as “how it has always been and thus will be,” but forget that HE is the Source of their blessings, and start to stray from putting the Lord God first and then fall into sin.
Then, in the OT, the gracious Lord sent a human prophet to the people to WARN them of their sinful ways. This happens over and over with both the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Prophets are sent and the people hear; sometimes, they repent (turn back to the Lord), and other times they don’t. When they do return, God, who is “slow to anger and of great kindness” because He is “gracious and merciful,” welcomes them back and relents from doing harm.
But a look at the history of both Kingdoms of Israel and Judah shows that eventually, God let them be destroyed or captured to show that He is a JUST God.
I am worried about America today. We began well with strong Biblical roots and Founders who were committed to Jesus Christ. Prayer meetings in Congress and everyone – even non-Christians – acknowledged a “Divine Power” and “Providence” Who guided our nation.
Today, we have strayed far from His Word. We need a Joel 2:13 moment in our country; we need 2 Chronicles 7:14… “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
Prayer: LORD God, please help us! Amen.
Joel 2:13
“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 was one of the many prophets in the Old Testament, and since the prophets are not read very often, here is the message of the prophets in a nutshell: “Repent, stop sinning and return to the Lord God… or else… ”
It happens all the time: God blesses a people and at first they are thankful and full of praise. But over time, they become complacent, accept the blessings as “how it has always been and thus will be,” but forget that HE is the Source of their blessings, and start to stray from putting the Lord God first and then fall into sin.
Then, in the OT, the gracious Lord sent a human prophet to the people to WARN them of their sinful ways. This happens over and over with both the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Prophets are sent and the people hear; sometimes, they repent (turn back to the Lord), and other times they don’t. When they do return, God, who is “slow to anger and of great kindness” because He is “gracious and merciful,” welcomes them back and relents from doing harm.
But a look at the history of both Kingdoms of Israel and Judah shows that eventually, God let them be destroyed or captured to show that He is a JUST God.
I am worried about America today. We began well with strong Biblical roots and Founders who were committed to Jesus Christ. Prayer meetings in Congress and everyone – even non-Christians – acknowledged a “Divine Power” and “Providence” Who guided our nation.
Today, we have strayed far from His Word. We need a Joel 2:13 moment in our country; we need 2 Chronicles 7:14… “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
Prayer: LORD God, please help us! Amen.
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