December 13 ,2017 - RETURN TO THE LORD

Day 347 - Joel & Revelation 4

“‘Yet even now,’ declares the Lord, ‘return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.’ Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.” (Joel 2:12-13 ESV)

“Return to the Lord your God” is the message John the Baptizer proclaimed in his day. His hearers desperately needed to be called to repentance so that they could receive God’s mercy and forgiveness.

“Return to the Lord your God” is the message all mankind needs to hear today too! We, too, need to repent so that we can receive Christ’s steadfast love and mercy. We, too, need to have our sins forgiven. The forgiveness of our sins is how God and sinners are reconciled. Do you recall that line from “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”?

Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!"
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,  join the triumph of the skies;
With th' angelic host proclaim, "Christ is born in Bethlehem!"
Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King!" 
("Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," The Lutheran Service Book, CPH 2006, #380, stz 1) 

Heavenly Father, thank You for calling me to return to You through faith in Jesus. Please continue to be gracious and merciful to me so that I may be reconciled to You now and eternally. May others hear Your voice calling them to return to You through me. In the name of Jesus, our Advent King. Amen.  

Pastor David Paape

Daily Bible Reading Chart
http://www.wholesomewords.org/family/bibleread/truth.pdf