Joel 2:12-13 – “Yet even now,” the Lord says, “return to me with all your heart—with fasting, weeping, and mourning. 13 Tear your hearts, not just your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to anger and boundless in loyal love—often relenting from calamitous punishment.”
As I read, prayed, and mused on the Word of God today, the thought of God’s dimension and grace filled my heart and mind. The Living God, our God, is awesome! His mercy is largely incomprehensible to the human mind. It exceeds our mercy so greatly that we cannot fathom it; therefore, many reject it because it is incomprehensible to humans.
In Joel 2:12-13, we have an example of this reality: even in judgment, God is compassionate. After judgment comes the healing oil of the Holy Spirit’s outpouring. (vv. 28-32). The outpouring is characterized by prophecy, visions, and dreams. The exposure to the divine realm is part and parcel of the Holy Spirit’s outpouring. (v. 32) speaks of the End Time Harvest. A Harvest that began on the Day of Pentecost.
John describes a people (believers) characterized by clearly identifiable traits. They live Love! John defines Love. It is living in obedience to God’s commandments. In (vv. 9-11), he issued a largely ignored warning and prohibition. Jude 4-7 and Revelation’s warnings to the churches describe this ignoring.
Excessive tolerance of a person who claims to be saved but lives a life contradictory to the Gospel and the nature of Christ. That includes drunkenness, hate, sexual perversion, greed, and yieldness to the desires of the flesh. John said (v. 11) – “because the person who gives him a greeting shares (endorses) in his evil deeds.”
God’s message to the Churches in Revelation was purity of heart, pursuit of truth, and love. Love that excuses sin is not love! Love risks rejection because it honestly introduces the truth. The truth liberates; excessive tolerance binds.
LORD, help us to receive your correction and respond to your mercy in Faith!
