- …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
- Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” (v.4) Five words and a city turned to God. If you look at the Hebrew, Jonah only spoke five words to the people of Nineveh, and not a single one of those words told them to repent, to turn to God, or even spoke about God in it. Yet what was God able to do with the five words of a reluctant prophet? He was able to turn the eyes of an entire city to Himself; from the poorest of the poor to the king on the throne, all eyes turned to God and God was able to relent from His destruction. So my question to you is this, if God was able to save an entire city with the few words of a reluctant prophet, what do you think He could do with an unashamed, devoted disciple? How about what could God accomplish with an entire church unified together in His love for each other and for those outside the church? The stories would be legendary and it all starts with us saying we’ll follow Him wherever He leads. That we’ll say whatever He directs us to say. We’ll partner up with whoever He leads us to be with. We will allow the desires of God to become our desires. When this happens be ready to live the adventure. For if God can save a city with the five words of a reluctant prophet, what do you think He can do with you when you’re all in for Him? – Daily DEVO 57
- Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them. Jonah 3:4-5 – We know God can multiply bread and fish, but what we see here is a multiplication of something else. He multiplied the impact. Jonah reluctantly gave the message to the people not even including anything about God or His love. That message though was enough for God to work with and multiple the impact of to the point we see the whole nation, including the king, turning from their evil ways to follow God. You may not think your witness is having much impact, just know God is able to take your faithful witness and multiply the impact hundreds of times you ever imagined. We just need to make sure we are doing our mission God called us to. It’s impossible for God to multiply the impact of your faithful witness if you aren’t having one. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 660
- The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. Jonah 3:6 – This is exactly what God is looking for. When the king heard the message of the Lord, the king didn’t remain existing as he was before he heard the message. The king got up from his throne, changed his clothes, and humbled himself before God. The king didn’t stay where he was but made a change. When God speaks to us, God wants a change made from us. God wants us to listen when He speaks and be willing to follow His words with our actions…or we can choose to remain sitting on our throne saying we’re in change instead. What we see in this passage is what can happen when people humble themselves to the word of God. Get up out of your throne, change according to the ways God is directing you, and find the freedom and life that follows such humility. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2091
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