In Judgment, Turn to the Lord
“Yet even now,” declares the LORD,
“Return to Me with all your heart,
And with fasting, weeping and mourning;
And rend your heart and not your garments.”
Now return to the LORD your God,
For He is gracious and compassionate,
Slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness
And relenting of evil.
Joel 2:12–13
Joel reveals two displays of God’s judgment. First, a locust judgment on the people of Judah. Second, the final judgment at the day of the Lord on all the nations. In the midst, of the first judgment on Judah, God offers hope if the people repent!
Often, the hardest thing to do when we are in our flesh and feeling the consequences of our sin is turn to the Lord. Why is this?
Pride.
This can come in so many different forms:
1. Self-Loathing - Thinking that somehow your self-loathing makes up for your sin. This ends up just being another form of penance.
2. Blame Shifting - Seeking to blame others or our environment for our sin. We can even blame God if we aren’t careful. Saying to ourselves, “why didn’t God stop me?”
3. Self-Justification - Giving excuses for our sin and listing out ways the sin is not that bad, or we have done enough good to make up for it and balance it out.
4. Ignoring - Sometimes we can take the holiness of God for granted, ignoring our sin and going on as if we were Lord of Righteousness.
All of these are expressions of pride. None of them are proper responses when we find ourselves in the grief of sin’s shame, guilt, and consequences.
God offers true hope.
When we sin, God’s righteous discipline should affect our hearts and lives. It causes us to repent and put our faith in God! Humble your hearts and seek the Lord. Don’t put on an outward show to somehow make up for our sin. Return to the Lord!
Why should we go to Him?
...for He is gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness and relenting of evil.
It is His character. It is who He is. God’s name is our motivation for humble repentance. We are sinners. BUT He is gracious. He is compassionate. He is patient. He is loyal in His love. He is quick to forgive and grant grace.
We must understand God knows our sin. God grieves over it. God sees how it hurts us and how it defames Him. God is fully aware that the name we wear is blasphemed by every sin we do. But His divine nature is quick to forgive when we humbly cry out to Him.
So, what do we do when we find ourselves deep in sin and the misery of sin’s consequences overwhelm us? TURN to God. Our heavenly Father is ready to forgive even the vilest of sinners.
Father help me to always be quick to turn to You. Remind me when I’m in sin that You are there with open arms. Cause me to run to you! Forgive me for all the times I sought to justify myself before you. What foolishness. You are my only hope. Please restore the joy of knowing you and walking with You. In Christ Jesus, the atoning sacrifice, amen!
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