Repent And Seek God Because He Is Holy
BRD REFLECTIONS:
(Cecilia Chow, CIC Facilitator)
READ
As I read both Joel 1 & Psalm 99, my attention was caught by these verses:
Joel 1: The Invasion of Locusts. A Call to Repentance
v3: Tell your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children to another generation.
v15: For the day of the Lord is near, and as destruction from the Almighty it comes.
Psalm 99: The Lord Our God is Holy
vv3, 5, 9: God is holy
v6: They called to the Lord and He answered them.
v8: Lord our God, you answered them; you were to Israel a forgiving God, though you punished their misdeeds.
OBSERVE:
Psalm 99 points out three times that God is Holy (vv3, 5, 9). The triple mention of God’s holiness emphasizes how important it is to be set apart for God. God cannot stand sin and evil, and He will punish them because He is a just God.
In Joel’s call to repentance, everyone is called to repent (put on sackcloth), to fast, cry out and pray to God, even through the generations.
When the Day of the Lord is near, destruction is inevitable. Yet God is merciful to those who turn to Him and offers them salvation.
APPLY:
The verse that came to my mind and spells out for me the application of the readings from today’s BRD was:
“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
(2 Chronicles 7:14)
DO:
As a disciple of Christ, I am reminded to:
- Always seek the holiness of God
- Reflect on and repent of my sins
- Witness to the generations
PRAY:
Dear God, thank you for being a loving, just and merciful God. Help me to seek to be Holy in your eyes. Guide me to discern what is right and turn away from what is not. Nurture me in your love to be compassionate and merciful in your ways. And may your grace lead me with courage to be your faithful witness. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
