What God Is Like

March 6, 2019

DAILY READING

Joel 2:1-2, 12-17
This weekend’s reading: Mark 15:21-24

FIELD NOTES
Today – Ash Wednesday – is the beginning of Lent, which is a penitential season. Penance is a time of confession out of a desire for reconciliation. 
 
As the Israelites gathered at Mount Sinai following 400 years of slavery in Egypt God reveals God’s nature this way (Exodus 34:6-7): The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for the thousandth generation, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.
 
In our reading today the prophet Joel is reminding the people of this importance of a correct understanding of God’s nature.  He writes in verse 13: Return to the Lord, your God, for God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing.   
 
The Bible lets us know that no matter where we are on our journey with God, at the beginning like the Israelites of Moses’ time or facing difficulties and in need of a reminder of God’s nature like the Israelites of Joel’s time. 

QUESTIONS FROM THE FIELD

• What characteristic of God would you like to add to this list?
• This Ash Wednesday, what do we believe (perhaps incorrectly) about God that you need to confess?
• As a child of God, made in the image of God, how do you model these characteristics in your family, school, workplace, or neighborhood?

FAMILY FIELD TALK

• Tell of a time you have experienced God’s mercy, grace, slowness to anger, love, or faithfulness.