First Day of Lent, Ash Wednesday
Posted on February 22, 2023 by under
Scripture: Joel 2:12-19 (NKJV)
2:12 “Now, therefore,” says the Lord, “Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.”
13 So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm.
14 Who knows if He will turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind Him—a grain offering and a drink offering for the Lord your God?
15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, consecrate a fast, call a sacred assembly;
16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children and nursing babes; Let the bridegroom go out from his chamber, and the bride from her dressing room.
17 Let the priests, who minister to the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar; Let them say, “Spare Your people, O Lord, and do not give Your heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule over them. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’”
18 Then the Lord will be zealous for His land, and pity His people.
19 The Lord will answer and say to His people, “Behold, I will send you grain and new wine and oil, and you will be satisfied by them; I will no longer make you a reproach among the nations.”
Devotion
Today is the beginning of the Lenten season. This special season is marked by the theme of repentance. While Scripture does not specifically command us to observe this particular season, it is a good reminder of the repentance that should be a hallmark of the Christian life. We strive to follow the Word of Christ, but we fall short. We pray for forgiveness and, by the power of the Holy Ghost, to do better in the future.
But even with good outward practice, it is possible to “go through the motions”; that is, to participate in the external observance, but not to truly repent. Thus, the words of the prophet: “Rend your heart, and not your garments.” The prophet also tells us why we should truly repent: our God is gracious, and merciful. He is slow to anger; He relents from doing harm. God spared Noah and his family in the flood; He spared the great city of Nineveh. Because of the grace He has shown in Christ Jesus, He will forgive your sins and my sins as well!
Prayer: Almighty and Everlasting God, Who hatest nothing that Thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of Thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
