The People Called to Repent

God Loves Us
God's Eternal, Preserving, Renewing Love

God's Love Restores

Joel 2:15-17. The Message

15-17 Blow the ram’s horn trumpet in Zion!
    Declare a day of repentance, a holy fast day.
Call a public meeting.
    Get everyone there. Consecrate the congregation.
Make sure the elders come,
    but bring in the children, too, even the nursing babies,
Even men and women on their honeymoon—
    interrupt them and get them there.
Between Sanctuary entrance and altar,
    let the priests, God’s servants, weep tears of repentance.
Let them intercede: “Have mercy, God, on your people!
    Don’t abandon your heritage to contempt.
Don’t let the pagans take over and rule them
    and sneer, ‘And so where is this God of theirs?’”

For Reflection

God continually offers to reconcile God's people. God wants us all to participate fully as members of God's household. God knows the risk we take in choosing to become citizens of the Kingdom is to be declared social and political deviants by those who reject God's sovereignty. God councils us not to abandon our heritage and inheritance to the seductions of the commonplace.

Pray

Pray that you recognize the value of living in God's Household.  Pray that you will acknowledge the attraction and seduction of the pressure to conform to the material world.  Pray to have confidence that God will never abandon you.  Pray for the courage to strengthen your faith in times of temptation.  Pray, "Lead me not into temptation. Deliver me from evil. Preserve my soul."