Skip to main content

Rend Your Heart

             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. (Joel 2:13)

 

            This passage brings to mind the whole of the Law, which was given to the people of Israel. It said, “If you obey, this is what will happen. If you disobey, that is what will happen.”  The Israelites told Moses that they were afraid to hear from God anymore and that he should speak with God and then tell them. And God gave them their request. Those two facts may not seem to go together, but both may be seen as God giving the Israelites control of their relationship with Him. Obedience brought blessing. Disobedience brought curses. Simple.

            But God didn’t generally bring the curse immediately. And often, He seemed to go through the parent’s routine of “I’m going to count to three, and then you’re going to get a spanking! One…Two…I’m warning you…Three. Three-and-a-half… (pulls the child close)…Last chance…” When the child agrees to do as told, the parent either doesn’t spank the child or spanks the child with less force than originally intended.

          The problem is that too often when we (as children) agree to do what we’re told, it’s not because we love our Father or regret what we are doing. It’s because it will get us what we want. We play the part of being contrite, effectively tearing our clothing in our grief, but our hearts don’t change. We may even intend our hearts to change, but the process is too long and hard. We end up back as we were – because our hearts haven’t changed.

          Some see judgment coming. Now is the time for each of us to prayerfully examine our hearts and begin the process of rending them.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Gal 6:10)   “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.   By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)           Joshua grinned when he saw Rex standing by the door, studying something on the ground. "Hey, man! Are we ready to do this thing?"          Rex looked up. "Josh, I can't do it. We're still best buds, but I can't stand your fiancée."           I've met "Rex" many times. I've been Rex. Joshua (Jesus) loves the Church. He's not a fool. He knows the Church is far from perfect, but she is His chosen bride. The Rexes of this world, who think themselves His friend, turn away from her. "You don't need the Church to...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ssssssubmmissssssionnn

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ . (Ephesians 5:21)             "Ssssssubmmisssssssionnn." Can't you just hear the serpent hissing this most horrible of words? If you listen to the serpent or the world, submission means groveling, allowing yourself to be abused, denying yourself your own humanity. Nothing could be worse than submission, could it?             Submission has never been a problem for me, as long as things are going the way I want them to. The rest of the time? Well, let's just say that while I don't know how to fight physically, I don't know how to not fight mentally. One of the fights I've been having with myself for years is about submission.             My first breakthrough took place on a trip to a bookstore. As I walked into the store, my thoughts were very clear. 1) I was goi...
Post a Comment
Read more

Shark Fins, Triple Dog Dares, Heroes, Villains and Sidekicks

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)            There's a scene in Jaws in which someone sees a shark fin and starts a panic. As   all the swimmers scramble to shore, boats surround the fin, which falls over to reveal two kids. With several guns pointed at them, one of the kids points at the other. The message is clear: it was his idea. In Christmas Story, there's a scene in which one kid "triple dog dares" another to do something stupid. Since it's a triple dog dare, well, what choice does the boy have? There doesn't seem to be any end to the trouble that peer pressure can cause. ...
Post a Comment
Read more