John 4:48 English Standard Version (ESV) So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.”

God speaks to us in many ways. He tells us that we can see Him through His creation according to Romans 1:19-20. Those are signs and wonders. Thousands of people have interpreted those signs and wonders in many ways. They created false gods to explain those signs and wonders. Fire gods, wind gods, water gods, gods of war, male and female gods, even animal gods.

Jesus came to show mankind the Father. Ref. John 8:19 His demonstration of power over life and death, over illness, blindness and creation itself became well known. Still there was this need to see signs and wonders to believe that Jesus was the Messiah. The scriptures told of Him and the scriptures were not enough.

“If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” John 8:19b is the key wording. They didn’t take the time to know Him. Even though the scriptures told of His coming, they did not believe the scriptures. John 4:45 makes it plain that if they had known the Father in the scriptures they would come to Jesus to know Him.

A proper interpretation of the scriptures will allow us to recognize Jesus when He calls to us. We will not believe in vain like so many before us. We will know Him and learn of Him and understand that the only two signs we truly needs is being born again and being given the Holy Spirit as our comforter. Being born again means we are no longer that person sold under sin, helpless and lost. Receiving the Holy Spirit corrects those two aspects of our past humanity, being lost and helpless.

All the misunderstandings we had about the scriptures will be corrected by the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth.

Joel 2:11 English Standard Version (ESV) The Lord utters his voice before his army, for his camp is exceedingly great; he who executes his word is powerful. For the day of the Lord is great and very awesome; who can endure it?

My meditations on being chosen and called brought me to a remembrance of the draft during times of war. If your number comes up, you are in the army. Given this word of prophecy it is much better to be in the army of the Lord.

Joel 2:3 English Standard Version (ESV) Fire devours before them, and behind them a flame burns. The land is like the garden of Eden before them, but behind them a desolate wilderness, and nothing escapes them.

This first portion of Joel 2 speaks of the terrible day of the Lord. It is a prophetic warning. Will it happen? Can anything prevent that day from happening?

Joel 2:12-14 English Standard Version (ESV)

Return to the Lord

¹² “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; ¹³ and rend your hearts and not your garments.” 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. ¹⁴ Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the Lord your God?

If history is any telling factor in future events then man does not heed warnings and it is likely that the terrible day of the Lord will happen. It is a great thing to be drafted into the army of the Lord. Serve the Lord with gratitude, rejoice and serve Him well.