Year 6, Day 214: Joel 2

Theological Commentary: Click Here

Discipleship Focus: Forgiveness

• Forgiveness: Forgiveness is when our sins are absolved by God.  We do not deserve this forgiveness, but God grants it to us anyway.  We cannot earn forgiveness, but God gives it to us anyway.  As we are forgiven by God, He also asks us to forgive others.  In fact, Jesus Himself teaches us to pray for our forgiveness in the Lord’s Prayer when He says, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

Joel 2 is the epitome of passages regarding forgiveness.  The chapter begins with a discussion about the enemy coming against the nation.  It speaks of judgment and wrath.  It speaks of guilt and wrongdoing.

The next section is a call to repentance.  It speaks for the people to acknowledge their guilt and come before God.  It speaks about true repentance being a thing of the heart, not just an outward act.

The third section promises the forgiveness of the Lord.  Here we learn that when we are told about our sin and repent of it, the Lord is faithful to forgive.  He will have mercy.  He will have pity.  There is no reason to fear.  We can find ourselves back into the provision of the Lord.

Quite often, though, we think that is the end.  We think that the process ends with our forgiveness and God restoring His provision.  That shows how self-centered we are!  In reality, the process ends with the reception of the Holy Spirit.  It is one thing to repent and be forgiven.  But the real joy in God’s presence is not the perishable provision that He faithfully gives.  The real joy is knowing that He will comes and dwell within us as He pours out His Spirit.

<><