Out Of Hours

It was rude to contact people before 9am and after 9pm

Joel 2:1-27

Reference: ““Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”” ‭‭Joel‬ ‭2:12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Explore: You know you have a good friend when there is no “out of hours” time on your communication.

My mother always taught us that it was rude to contact people before 9am and after 9pm. The only exception was very close family or emergencies.

Well, it seems like I break this rule on a daily basis when it comes to my friend Anna. It doesn’t matter what time of day (or night) it is, she is always happy for me to send her a text.

She may not get it straight away, and she doesn’t have to respond instantly, but she has never complained about my early morning and late night texts. In fact, if I haven’t messaged her, she’ll probably be the one to message me!

Of course, I don’t behave that way with just anyone. Only close friends.

Application: There are times when we think there must be an “out of hours” time with God. We might think we are too early or too late to call on Him.

However, God is always open to hearing from us.

Even when His people had totally rebelled against Him (as told in the book of Joel), He still told them they could come to Him.

“Even now, return to me…”

That is a God who wants to be close to us. He is the greatest friend who never has an “out of hours” or “used by date” on His relationship with us.

Don’t think you’re too late or too far gone. Return to God today.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for loving us and embracing us no matter what we have done or what time it may be. May we continually return to You each and every day. Amen.

In what way do you need to return to God?

communication, Friends, God, Joel, late, relationships