“Consecrate a fast, Proclaim a solemn assembly;
Gather the elders {And} all the inhabitants of the land
To the house of the LORD your God, And cry out to the LORD.“
Joel 1:14
Do we truly weep after our sins and wail for the damage they do to a holy and just God? Are we really repentant for the slights we give to our Father in heaven and how we nonchalantly give ourselves over to the lusts of our flesh and mind? If we knew true repentance, we would demonstrate true repentance. True repentance is not a one-time, hope for salvation attempt. True repentance is on going and lasts your entire life here on earth.
We see damage after damage being done in the Old Testament. Time after time, God allows some tragedy to occur, not for the pleasure of seeing suffering, but for the hope that the Jewish people would turn from their sins and repent of their affronts against God. But pride continues to stand in the people’s way. They are not willing to humbly ask forgiveness for a life that is not worthy of the King of Kings. They are not willing to humbly ask forgiveness for playing the prostitute with gods that are not gods.
We need humility more than ever as a nation, as a people and as a church. We need to call for a fast, to show that we are willing to humble ourselves and approach His throne, seeking forgiveness. We need a solemn assembly to show our Lord that we are done playing games and are willing to follow Him no matter the cost. We need to gather in His house and call out to the Lord. We sin so much that sin becomes commonplace. We sin so much that we do not see how far we have drifted from the Lord’s side.
* A disciple continues in the discipline of repentance
Application: Do you have a humble and repentant heart toward God? Are you ready to call out to the Lord?