…but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Jonah 3:8 – The rebellious prophet did faithfully go to where the Lord directed him to go, into the great city of Ninevah. There he made the proclamation that in 40 days Ninevah would be overthrown. While one could assume Jonah spoke more than just the words we have recorded in scripture, words that spoke about God and sin and repentance, that’s at least not what we see given to us in this passage. Yet even with as cold and vague of message as Jonah gave, we see the nation of Ninevah did repent. The king proclaimed a fast where no people or animals would eat and instead would call out to the Lord for forgiveness. Also see what was included in the king’s decree, that everyone must turn from the evil in his life and away from the violence that was normally in their hand. Such things were to be no longer a part of their life. This was the sort of repentance the Lord was seeking not only from Ninevah, but even Israel. Not simply a repentance of the outward variety where all is seen is a demonstration of holiness, yet no inward change with the sin in their life. God is calling us to turn from our sin and follow Him. Looking then at your life with sin currently, what level of change has taken place? Are we making an outward demonstration of no sin in our life, talking and pretending to be holy yet knowing inwardly we are still pursuing certain sins in secret? Or are we truly cutting ties with the sins in our life like God is calling us to? Clearly from this chapter we see which direction the Lord is pleased with, so let’s live a life that is pleasing to the Lord. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3301
Question To Ponder: What effect could our turning away from sin have on others around us?
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