PatienceSample

For the day is coming

Read Joel 2:1–2,12–17

The prophet Joel warns of both perilous times and great blessings ahead for the nation of Israel and the Jewish people. But prophecy, being what it is, is also for the instruction of believing Christians. Actually, the apostle Peter quotes from this chapter (Joel 2:28–32) on the Day of Pentecost when God graciously poured out His Holy Spirit, when the church was born and 3,000 people were added to their number (Acts 2).

But our focus today is on the early part of the chapter. It says ‘the day of the Lord’ is coming. God says get ready for great turmoil. Importantly this is not called ‘the devil’s day’. It’s God’s day. God instructs us to prepare for it not by focusing on what might happen but by working on our own hearts and attitudes and by being sure that we are right with God. It also instructs leaders to tell their followers not to be complacent. It points to the ‘sack cloth and ashes’ repentant attitude as practiced by some on Ash Wednesday prior to Easter.

Encouragingly, did you also read in the passage above that ‘He [God] is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm’?

Written by JOHN SCOTT