valentines – She is Authentic

By Belina Sithole

“Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness: He relents from doing harm.” Joel 2:13

In the verse we just read, Joel 2:13, it says ‘rend your heart and not your garments.’ and verse 12 says ‘return to me with all your heart’.

My understanding from these verses is that for us to repent, we must do so whole heartedly and not try to do it for show or under false pretence. Sometimes when you offend someone, or do something wrong, it’s easy to apologise and not really mean it and if you’re good at it the other person might believe that you’re truly sorry. But we know that we cannot fool God.

God knows our hearts; he knows when we are really trying to live a life that is pleasing to him and when we are genuine about it.

The verse then goes on to say, ‘for he is a gracious and merciful God’. So, if we are genuine about changing our lifestyle, even when we fail, God willingly forgives us. Why, because we do not earn God’s forgiveness, no matter how good of a person you might be or how much work you put in, God forgives us because he is a gracious and merciful God who is slow to anger and of great kindness.

So today I choose to remember that I’m saved by God’s grace, his love and mercy are much greater than my sins.

Prayer: God I thank you for your grace and mercy, I pray that I continue to seek you with all my heart and remain faithful to you. Amen!

God loves me unconditionally

By Belina Sithole

“Return, Israel, to the Lord your God. Your sins have been your downfall! Take words with you and return to the Lord. Say to him: “Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips.” Hosea 14:1-2

The book of the Prophet Hosea talks about the relationship of God with the Israelites, how the Israelites rebelled against God.

They had turned away from God, worshiping wooden idols, living a life governed by their own desires and rejecting God’s word. They no longer had a relationship with God, living as if they didn’t know God.

God was so angry with the Israelites to the point of withdrawing himself away from them, and he wanted to punish them for their actions, but he didn’t. Why, because of his unconditional love! However, the Israelites still suffered the consequences of their actions.

So instead of punishing the Israelites for their unfaithfulness, God decided to pursue them, and the Israelites had to repent from their sins in order to restore the relationship they had with God.

The same is true for you and I, we are not perfect and we make mistakes but God still loves us and he delights in showing us mercy.

So today I choose to remember that God loves me unconditionally, he willingly forgives me even though I repeatedly continue to sin.

Prayer: God I thank you because you continue to show me mercy when I don’t deserve it. You showed me unconditional love by giving up your only son to die for my sins. By his blood my sins were washed away making me new in Christ and restoring my relationship with you. Amen!