02.21.12 “Rend your heart and not your garments”
Scripture Reading: Joel 2:12-13
12 “Even now,” declares the LORD,
“return to me with all your heart,
with fasting and weeping and mourning.”
13 Rend your heart
and not your garments.
Return to the LORD your God,
for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love,
and he relents from sending calamity.
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Reflection Questions
In Genesis 37, Isaac’s oldest son Reuben “tore his clothes” when he realized that his brother Joseph had been sold into slavery. In Numbers 14, Joshua tore his clothes when the Israelites fearfully refused to enter the promised land. When Job heard of the death of his children, he “tore his robe.” In each of these circumstances, the act of tearing one’s clothes was a sign of suffering and grief.
- Joel encourages the people to move beyond the tangible symbol of mourning over their sins to a heartfelt experience of grief for their sins against God. How might the act of “mourning” our sin fuel our desire to return to God?
- In what way can you “rend your heart” today before the Lord? In what areas of your life is God calling you to “return to him with all your heart”?
Weekly Prayer
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardship as a pathway to peace; taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that You will make all things right if I surrender to Your will; so that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with You forever in the next. Amen.
Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.