Lent@Landmark: Day 4

For some reason, it’s easy to forget God’s love for us. Perhaps it’s because we’re not accustomed to loving or being loved by someone that much. Here the urgency in these words expressing God’s desire to restore and enjoy friendship with us, from Joel 2.

Yet even now, says the LORD, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the LORD, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love…

The more common image seems to be one of a supervisor, enforcing the rules and doling out consequences for breaking them. But that is not the Spirit of the living God. Remember that God is eager for us to repent because God is eager to restore us and connect with us. Our repentance leads to God’s rejoicing!