Monday, June 6, 2011

Rend Your Heart

Joel 2:13a NIV
Rend your heart 
and not your garments.
Return to the LORD your God...

It was a common ritual in Judaism to rend, or tear, one's clothing as an outward sign of grief. Like many traditions and rituals, it became religious and meaningless. God wanted true repentance, which only comes as a result of Godly sorrow and a broken heart.

 2 Corinthians 7:10 NIV
Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation 
and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

Psalm 51:17 NIV
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise.

Anyone can put on a show, and pretend that they are grieved by their sin. God wants more than our lip service and tears. He wants more than a visit to the altar, which the whole congregation can see. God looks through the fluff and the emotions and He sees the state of our hearts. It is not enough to simply say, "Lord, I'm sorry and I don't want to sin anymore!" That is a mental apology. When our hearts are truly broken before the Lord, that's when true repentance occurs, because it's that brokenness that makes us want to change. Repentance is not just about apologizing; it's turning away from our sin and deciding to do thing's God's way.

Therefore, in light of your sin: rend, rip apart, tear open, shred your heart. Be broken before the Lord. Repent and return to the Lord. His arms are open wide, and He desires to bless you.





No comments:

Post a Comment