God of the Second Chance

“Turn to me now, while there is time.  Give me your hearts.  Come with fasting, weeping and mourning.  Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.  Return to the LORD your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.  He is eager to relent and not punish.”  Joel 2:12-13 (NLT)

We have an amazing God.  No matter how disobedient Israel was, no matter how many times they turned from Him to worship other gods, no matter how evil and corrupt their leaders were, God still called out to them to return to Him, even as he was about to send calamity on the nation.  The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is the very God we call “Father” today.  Pray that we will not take His mercy and compassion for granted.  Just as with Israel, there will be consequences if we do not return to Him in sincere repentance.  Verse 14 says, “Who knows?  Perhaps he will give you a reprieve, sending you a blessing instead of this curse.”