Todays passage Joel 1-3: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=joel%201-3&version=NIV
Todays post comes from Crosswalk.com's bible pathways:
Joel warned of the impending destruction of Jerusalem. In mercy, the Word of the Lord . . . came to Joel . . . . Blow . . . the trum-pet in Zion, and sound an alarm in My holy mountain (Joel 1:1; 2:1). The trumpet was often used to announce solemn days and feasts, and by watchmen to warn of approaching danger (Numbers 10:1-10). But, the sins of the Israelites were even more serious than the approaching enemies. Because of their sins, God could not bless them or protect them. The day of the Lord cometh . . . a great people. . . . nothing shall escape them. . . . Therefore . . . turn . . . to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning (Joel 2:1-12).
The one condition for forgiveness and acceptance by the Lord is genuine repentance. True repentance is threefold. First, it is a sorrow for one's sin against God, as well as against others; second, it is a turning to the Lord, asking His forgiveness for all sins; and third, it is forsaking sin to live a life pleasing to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
On the Day of Pentecost, the Apostle Peter preached the prophetic meaning of Joel's words, saying: Whosoever shall call on the Name of the Lord shall be saved (Acts 2:21). He concluded his message by saying: Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (Spirit). For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off (2:38-39). We are among those that are afar off.
The prophet Joel also foretold of the final day of the Lord that is yet to take place: Alas for the day! for the day of the Lord is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come (Joel 1:15). It will bring to a close the miserable rule of sinful mankind and finally usher in the glorious reign of Jesus Christ, the righteous King of Peace. Jesus foretold there will come a time soon when all the tribes of the earth . . . shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory (Matthew 24:30).
Praise God, no matter how deep in sin we are, we have the opporunity to repent and to look forward to that day of the glorious reign of Jesus Christ.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
You quoted some of my favorite set of verses. I love them for it has so much relevance to us today. God's judgment is coming upon our world's economic, political, educational and false religious systems. Everything will be shaken yet in the very mist of God's judgment, the Lord is pouring out His Spirit. The outpouring is so great even our sons and daughters shall prophesy something which must have blown Joel's mind. God's Spirit was only upon a select few in the Old Testament yet it the future God will pour out His Spirit upon all flesh. And to think we are living right in the time period of these verses.
ReplyDeleteAnd it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants. I will pour out My Spirit in those days.“ And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD.
And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance,As the LORD has said, Among the remnant whom the LORD calls.