Rend Your Heart And Not Your Garments

Have you ever done something outwardly that you definitely weren't feeling inwardly?

I would assume it took about three seconds for something to pop into your head. We've all done things, talked to people, worked on projects, gone places that we really didn't want to do, say, complete or go. That's part of being an adult, right? You do the things because they have to get done, regardless of what your heart really says about it?

Perhaps your heart isn't the right place to start. Our heart attitude changes from day to day, sometimes minute to minute, so how good of a judge is it, really? 

Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Joel 2:12-13

What the heart is good for is convicting us of sin and turning us back to the Lord. In Bible times, rending the clothes was a physical custom that signaled intense grief, mourning, deep distress, or public repentance before God. Everyone in view could tell something was going on with them spiritually - nothing was hidden when you were ripping the clothes off your body!

But the heart. Now that's something else altogether.

No one knows what's happening inside your heart but you and God. If you're rending your heart, you're dealing with the issues at hand, giving them over to God, and repenting of the sin. You're tearing the layers off your heart so God can get down to the fleshy parts again. It's painful, it's ugly, and it's necessary to get back in right standing and relationship with the Lord.

Rending the clothes is for an outward show. Rending the heart is for an inward change. Which one are you involved in today?

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