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Freedom Phrase-Abounding Love

August 29th, 2019

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Redemption, today’s Freedom Phrase is based on Joel 2:13.

“Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.”

In Jewish history, the tearing of the clothes often was a sign of deep anguish or extreme grief. Jacob, for example, tore his clothes when he thought that his son Joseph had died. 

Here in the book of Joel, the LORD is calling His people to a contrite heart-one that is broken with sorrow because of sin.  In the Bible, sin is a big deal because the LORD is holy. God demands justice for it. At the cross, God showed that His grace is an even bigger deal when Jesus took the punishment for our sins. If we have lost our way by running away from God, there is a way to return through Jesus Christ. He is the way, the truth, and the life.

Through Jesus, we are set free to return to God and experience His abounding love.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com




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