Rend

I've been having a hard time reading the Bible lately without looking words up. It's actually quite annoying because i don't have a dictionary and always have to do it on my phone. So, I need a dictionary.

But really, I don't know how I read the Bible before. All the words I look up are common words, that when read in context are easily figured out, but when you find the meaning it changes everything. (at least for me it does) I'll show you:

We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christs behalf: Be reconciled to God. 2 corinthians 5:20

ambassadors: a diplomatic official of the highest rank appointed and accredited as representative in residence by one government or sovereign to another, usually for a specific length of time
: a diplomatic official heading his or her country's permanent mission.
Appeal: an earnest or urgent request, entreaty or supplication
Implore: to appeal to in supplication; beseech to beg for urgently; entreat
Reconcile: to reestablish a close relationship between.

So we look at it differently
We are therefore Christ's diplomatic official heading our permanent mission, as though God were making his urgent request through us. We beg you urgently on Christ's behalf: Reestablish a close relationship with God.

It just makes it more real to me.
Today i was reading joel. I came across the passage that says, "Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity."

I looked up Rend and found a meaning i wasn't expecting .... to tear or split apart or into pieces violently. And i thought to myself that God is constantly asking us to do that. To tear our hearts apart. I think sometimes our hearts get very cold and hard. When we voluntarily open our hearts to God, we have no choice but to let our hearts be torn apart, because that is exactly what He does when we let him... He is a jealous God. He wants all of our hearts, not pieces.