ASH WEDNESDAY – Feb. 26, 2020 – Joel 2:12-14
Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text for this evening is from the Old Testament reading from Joel 2. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ:
- There are times when it feels as if our attempted devotion to God is futile. Our enemy, the devil, often attempts to convict us that we are beyond hope, beyond the scope of God’s gracious mercy and love. Martin Luther had many such times. He termed this “anfechtung,” or in Latin “tentatio.” These terms mean trouble, affliction, and spiritual oppression.
- There are two unfruitful ways in which people respond to such sufferings. Since it is the Law of God that is accusing us, there are only two natural responses: despair, or delusion. Turning to God doesn’t seem wise since it is His Word terrifying us.
- Many people do despair, and simply plunge themselves more fully into the sin and darkness that afflicts them. Their mantra becomes “I’m only human, I’m only doing what is natural to me.”
- Many people, however, are lured into delusion. They come to believe that if only they do this or that, that God will see their goodness and their good heart, and that He will then overlook their faults.
- God desires neither of these responses, nor does He call for them. Instead, His response to human sin, and to the deep struggle we at times have with our sin, is simply to return to Him. This is what He calls for us and for all people to do in our text. However, we are to:
I. Return To The Lord With Full Integrity, And No Hypocrisy
Text: “’Yet even now,’ declares the LORD, ‘return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.’”
Gospel: “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father Who is in heaven. . . . when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. . . . But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
Statement: The thought that we can appease God with our works, and prove to others how “good and righteous” we are is a ridiculous affront to truth. We may fool people, but we will never fool God. Besides, the motive in this is not genuine and truthful repentance, but rather a superficial understanding of our sin, and a superficial thinking about God.
Application: The one thing that God desires most for us, in our relationship with Him, is integrity. We understand this – from our relationships with one another! But this is paramount with God – Who already knows everything about us!
So God does not call us to despair, and He certainly warns about and calls us away from delusion! The fact is that He calls us back to Himself, to truly know Him, for:
II. We Should Return To The Lord Knowing That He Is Gracious And Merciful
Text: “Return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and He relents over disaster.”
A. Consider His Redemption In Christ Jesus, Promised From The Beginning
John 1:29 “Behold the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world.”
This is the fulfillment of the Lamb of the Passover.
This is fulfillment of the Lamb provided to Abraham and Isaac for sacrifice.
This is the fulfillment of the Lambs in the offerings of Israel.
This is fulfillment of the Lamb led to slaughter for our sins in Isaiah 53.
Eph. 1:7 “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”
B. Remember, He Is Slow To Anger And Abounding In Steadfast Love
C. So He Is Eager To Bless Us, And To Relent From Disciplining Us
Statement: Because of our sin and the guilt we often feel, we often get a sense that God must be very disappointed with us, and perhaps eager to punish us and be done with us. Nothing could be further from the truth, further from the true character and heart of God. There is really nothing in human life and being more important and more blessed than knowing this about God, truly knowing Him as He is.
Application: All of this should make us all the more eager to turn back to the Lord with full integrity and honesty. This will preclude our ever thinking that we could possibly make things up to God! This will enable us to return to God with all our heart, soul, and mind. This will give us comfort and peace in spite of our sin and guilt. This will also give us strength and purpose to “go and sin no more!
Indeed, when we “RETURN TO THE LORD” – to His gracious mercy and love:
III. Then We Can Truly Serve Him In Genuine Love
A. Selflessly, Offering True Treasures
Gospel: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”
B. We Will Offer Him Our Very Hearts, Which Are Won By His Love And Are Now Devoted To Him
Gospel: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Statement: This is the restoration to love and goodness that the Lord wills for each and every one of us! Note that His grasp upon us is not by the scruff of the neck, but rather in the gentle embrace of our hearts. In His great love He humbly beseeches us, almost begs us to “RETURN TO THE LORD.” With promises of gracious mercy and forgiveness He calls us away from the many idolatries that our sinful nature compels us to – including the love of money.
Application: Though our sinful nature may object – because it desires slavery to sin, we will find the freedom of God much more delightful, ultimately. It is what God originally created us to be, and it is our sure destiny as children of God.
Conclusion: So let us neither despair nor turn to self-delusion. Neither of these things will do anyone any good whatsoever. Rather, let us “RETURN TO THE LORD,” for “He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and He relents over disaster.”
This is His good and gracious will for us. May He accomplish it for us and in us, Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.