Nehemiah 13; Joel 1&2
No matter how many times his people go astray, God still pleads with them to return to him. Making wine on the Sabbath, doing their shopping on that holy day, marrying foreign wives were some of the blatant sins Israel was once again committing so soon after Jerusalem was restored.
But it wasn’t just about those things that God was saddened by. His heart broke because of their hearts’ condition.
Joel 2:12-14 spoke to me today. God calls us to return to him with all our hearts. Don’t just go through the motions by tearing your clothes. Rend your hearts, he says.
The sins Israel committed came from unrepentant hearts. God is asking me today about my own heart’s condition. What part does he play in my innermost being? He wants it all. And if I truly have given him all of me, my life would reflect that in my speech, in my actions, in my business dealings, in my home.
Sin is an outward expression of the heart. That’s why we are told to guard our hearts. That’s why Jesus wants to dwell there so that we would have victory over sin. He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. He wants to bless us but he cannot bless sin.
Dear Father in heaven, thank you for your grace and compassion. Thank you for your great love. Thank you for second and third and fourth chances. God, may we rend our hearts, allow you to take up residence in our innermost beings. And may the things we do and say today reflect your Presence in our lives. Give us victory over temptation and sin as we give you our hearts.
I am reminded, like you said, that God wants ALL of us. That includes the ugly, sinful, shameful parts of our hearts-the deep resevoirs of hurt and pain that only He can see and reach and understand. Why do we hold it back? There’s a song by tenth avenue north that reminds me that He gave us ALL of himself-including the hurt and the pain. if we just act like everything is “ok” then we aren’t reciprocating His love. He doesn’t just want the surface stuff we give to others-He wants our brokenness too. That’s where the healing begins-when light meets the dark.
Thank you for your insight, H. I like the phrase “when light meets dark”, knowing nothing is too dark to surrender to God. I’m not sure why we tend to hold on to some things but I pray we will give God even those darkest areas. You are right to say when God wants ALL of me he means ALL. I thank him for that. God bless you, dear one.