Today’s Reading, Joel 1-3
Focal Scripture: Joel 2:13 “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.”
Being authentic is important. Showing your true colors and what you’re really thinking about topics is needed in our society. I am not condoning being rude or mean to people. What I am saying is to be real in your responses and not put on a show to impress other people. You can be godly and authentic at the same time when you express yourself.
In today’s reading we see the prophet Joel speaking to the Israelites. He tells the Israelites to not just tear their clothes but also their hearts. This is where the authentic part comes in because to be vulnerable means you must be willing to demonstrate how you’re feeling about sin personally. Our hearts are what matters when it comes to sin.
So the application for today is to examine yourself and tear your heart open when you sin against the Lord. This is a posture of mourning. A posture of brokenness. Our sin should break us before a holy God. We need to seek his forgiveness because he is compassionate and gracious. The Lord wants to forgive. He wants to see things right but we must have a posture that says we want that to happen.
I am not sure where you are today in your faith journey. But know this, the Lord will forgive. Know that the Lord is gracious and compassionate. Especially to the broken hearted. He is calling you to test your hearts open before the Lord. It will change your attitude and your perspective.
Be authentic before the Lord. Lay it all on the line.
Tomorrow I plan on reading Amos 1-5
