(The autumn
rain softened the soil for planting winter wheat. The spring rain caused the grain
to swell – ensuring a good harvest.) Commentary
The
scripture above is a picture of God’s heart for His children. Just like earthly
parents want the best for their children, God, the Author of Love, delights,
rejoices and desires to shower, yes, shower His children with blessings.
May I share
with you the big picture of when this scripture was spoken? Joel was a prophet
of God who was called to encourage God’s people to repentance. Repentance is a
change of mind that results in a change of action. God loves His children even
more than we love our children and at the time God’s people had become prosperous
and complacent. Taking God for granted, they turned to self-centeredness and
sin. In other words, as I heard someone say, “They were more focused on their blessings
than on the Blessor.”
I love that God
desires to pardon sin and His heart always wants the best for His children. God
sent Joel to encourage His people to turn back to God with their entire heart.
God offered complete forgiveness and a reward for their change of mind and
change of heart.
God was already planning for their blessing.
His desire was for them to turn their hearts back towards Him and be sincere as
you they followed Him.
When people
turn to God with a sincere heart, God pardons us, and He restores our
relationship with Him! God does not promise individual wealth nor is He oppose
to it. However, God promises something better: He will meet our deepest needs by loving us, forgiving
us and giving us purpose in life!
The first
rain is to soften our hearts so that God’s word can be planted. The second rain
causes the seed that was planted in our hearts to swell with the joy of the
LORD!
May we always
be grateful to the Blessor and may He send you abundant showers – both autumn
and spring!
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