Hope for the Nations

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Click here to access the reading from Joel 2:12-13; 28-29

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You will find the Sermon Notes for today’s message here.

REFLECTION

Rend Your Heart

by Elaine Pierce

Joel is a short book - only 3 chapters. I encourage you to read it one sitting this week. While scholars cannot date the book with complete certainty, most think it was written sometime during the Persian period (539-331 BC). Joel focuses on what to do about the locust plague (1:1-2:27) and the Future Day of the Lord, of which the current locust plague is a sign (2:28-3:21). The verses most often quoted from Joel are in 2:28-29, which we read today.  

But for our Sunday devotion, let's focus on Joel 2:12-13.  

How many times in the Bible can you read this phrase or one similar to it? The Lord is slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love? According to google, at least 32 places. In Joel 2:13, he exhorts the people to "return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love." 

32 times. We need to be reminded over and over that the Lord is gracious...compassionate...slow to anger... and abounding in love...And how does Joel tell the people to return to the Lord? Not only by the outward signs of tearing your garments, fasting, and prayer, but by the inner sign of rending your heart.  

Every Sunday, our worship includes confession. We come before God corporately and individually and confess our sin. We grieve the Lord. We don't deserve to be his sons and daughters. We have ignored his calls for obedience. And yet, he offers each one of us the opportunity to confess our sins and receive forgiveness. He wipes the slate clean.  

And what rich blessings await us! Yes, we will dream dreams and see visions (Joel 2:28-29). Because of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, we come to God as new creations, saved by his grace and ready to serve him.  

Join me in returning to the Lord, and receiving the grace, love, and compassion that only he can give.  

UALC’S CAMPAIGN OF PRAYER

SUNDAY - PEACE - Blessed are the Shalom-makers, for they shall be called the children of God. We confess that we have all sinned and fallen short of your glory, O God. We have broken the peace and wholeness of your good world. Forgive us, lead us, and restore us. Reform us into peacemakers instead of peace-breakers.