Awesome God!

God was speaking to the people through the prophet Joel. God was speaking in a time when there was a general falling away from the Lord. God wanted to get the people’s attention so God has allowed great hardship: the land has been ravaged by drought and locusts; what was left has been eaten by a second wave of locusts. Into this devastation and physical destruction, hunger and hardship, God called for repentance.

Then amazingly, two promises. The first promise: the land will recover and you will be repaid for what you have lost. “You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you.” (verse 26) The second: “I will pour out my spirit on all flesh?” (verse 28) Healing of the land is wondrous but the most amazing is the pouring out of God’s spirit on all flesh.

God poured this same Spirit upon the people at Pentecost. In baptism we have received the Holy Spirit. God’s spirit has been poured into us, not drop by drop, but poured. How is that reflected in your life today, or in mine?

“I, the Lord, am your God and there is no other.”

Giving God, help us to turn to you and allow you full reign in our lives. Amen. — REJ