Press the play button to watch the video above or press 'more' to read the transcript of the daily devotion below. Please read Joel 2: 12-20 (use your own Bible or use the link above to access the in-App Bible).

As we move on through this time of Advent, as Christians looking forward to celebrating the birth of Jesus, we see how much Jesus has changed our understanding of the nature of God, from a god of wrath to one of doubtless love, through His sacrifice once and for all on the cross. Jesus shows us that God is indeed ‘gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love’ (v.13) as Joel informs us himself.

But, at this time, without Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, these people had to cling on to hope of God’s mercy. The perilous depiction of the land being invaded by locusts is the threat of being punished and abandoned to a terrible outcome by God. The threat is real; the hope is that He will never expose His people to harm.

But still, here we are, exposed to a similar threat – the terrors of the world in which we live. Without letting Jesus into our hearts, we are as exposed as the people in the land of Joel.

The message to us is that in order to truly benefit from the security, safety and love available to us today through our Lord Jesus, we still need to ‘rend our hearts, not just our clothing.’ It is not enough just to put on an outward appearance of repentance. Through this, even though the fears of the world still abound, we can receive the benevolent love of God which He offers to the inhabitants of this land.

With God’s help, if we are sincere, search our souls, and do away with the selfjustifying voices in our heads that hold us back from delivering the mercy that God shows to His people in this passage, then we will have let Jesus be the change that He can be for the world, shown through us, this Advent, this Christmas, and always. Through ‘rending our hearts,’ let us be more ready to welcome Jesus, when He comes.