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Devotional
Weekly Bible Devotion By Books
July 17-22, 2023
Enter the Presence of the Lord
3: 21-24 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus
5:1-5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 3:21-24; 5:1-5)
Confession
Lord of salvation, Life is not always easy. Suffering often puts us in downcast mode. We simply forget the eternal hope in your glory and abiding love, which you have given right in our hearts. Yes, we turn to you. Help us get through all challenges and be the vectors in our existence. Amen.
Scripture Reading Joel 1: 4, 14; 2: 1-2a, 7-9, 11-13, 28a; 3:12, 18, 20
Joel 1: 4, 14; 2: 1-2a What the locust swarm has left, the great locusts have eaten; what the great locusts have left, the young locusts have eaten; what the young locusts have left, other locusts[a] have eaten. 1:14 Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord.
2:1 Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming.2:2a a large and mighty army comes, such as never was in ancient times, nor ever will be in ages to come.
2:7-9 They charge like warriors; they scale walls like soldiers. They all march in line, not swerving from their course. 8 They do not jostle each other; each marches straight ahead. They plunge through defenses without breaking ranks.9 They rush upon the city; they run along the wall. They climb into the houses; like thieves they enter through the windows.
2:11-13 The Lord thunders at the head of his army; his forces are beyond number, and mighty is the army that obeys his command.2:12-13 “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.
2:28a “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
3:12, 18, 20 12 “Let the nations be roused; let them advance into the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit to judge all the nations on every side. 3:18 “In that day the mountains will drip new wine, and the hills will flow with milk; all the ravines of Judah will run with water. A fountain will flow out of the Lord’s house and will water the valley of acacias. 3:20 Judah will be inhabited forever and Jerusalem through all generations.
Thoughts to share Hope at the Dead-End
Is it possible to find hope in great ruins, great loss, great grief, and great oppositions? It is hard. We know it from our own experiences and from clinical observations. But in the book of Joel, we find that God himself became a great cheer leader. He made great effort to cheer up those gripped by great sorrow, great scare, and great doubt, and great confusion. He gave hope beyond they could imagine and they dared to ask.
What were the circumstances where Joel’s people were in? The farmland was gone! The pasture was gone! Food was gone! Wine was gone! So, the grain offering and drink offering had to be cancelled! Moreover, a great war was looming to them! The entire world was gone! How would they endure? Where would they escape? Where was their God?
Yet, See the pictures that God showed to those in great sadness and great darkness. There is a future! There is a hope! They are not in the end of the world!
God himself will
- Be their General to fight for them with great executive power
- Recover the farmland, pasture, fruit yards, and animal fields
- Pour out abundant rain: the early rain and the latter rain
- Send out grain, wine, oil
- Cause no more harassment and disgrace from the nations around them
- Pour out the Spirit of God to everyone so they will be saved
-Judge those nations against them with all evil and destructive deeds
- Become their refuge and stronghold
- Prosper them forever and Jerusalem will thrive generation after generation.
The subtle rebuke in midst of such glorious hope was that the great ruin was because of their apostacy. The fix came from God: “Return to me with your heart.” “Rend your heart, not your garments!”
The leadership in the darkest hours was to blow trumpet to call for attention to entire community, from the old to the young. The call was so pressing, even the bridegroom and bride was instructed to put aside their wedding plan. All came together for a solemn assembly. They were to fast, to consecrate, and to return to their God. There were to give a heart offering to the Lord!
The Lord is waiting! The Lord is looking forward to our returning, our clinging to him again. He is gracious, merciful, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love. He can relent over disaster.
Fear not! Be glad and rejoice. There is hope! There is future! Give a heart offering to the Lord now in wherever you are! Get up! Move on!
Prayer suggestions
Lord, the Holy and Righteous One, the Author of Life, thank you for your truth. We learn that in our existence, we have our own responsibilities to do good according to your teachings. In our failing, you still have grace and mercy for us. You still have plan and hope for us. Even you have plan for our inability of following you. Thank you for who you are. Thank you for the salvation plan in Jesus Christ. Thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit. We call upon your name, surrendering our entire self to you. Save us now. Rewrite our life stories. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Prayer Request
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