"When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust...But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.”
- Jonah 3:6-9 -

God said to Jonah who repented of his disobedience, “‘Arise, go to Nineveh the great city …’ So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh” (2,3). Jonah's message was very simple: “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown” (4). In Hebrew, it is just five words. It seems to have no compassion. Yet the response of the Ninevites was great; they repented thoroughly (fasting and covering themselves with sackcloth) from the king to all the people. When we compare Jonah's reluctant obedience and heartless message, the response of the Ninevites was hot. God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways. He relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened (10).

How great God's forgiving love is! Do you feel that what you’ve done is too big for Him to forgive? Grasp how wide, long, high, and deep Christ's love is (Eph 3:18). If God forgave cruel tyrants, how much more will He forgive you and me.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for your great forgiving love as we repent thoroughly. Holy Spirit, help us to repent and grow in the great love of God throughout 2021. Hallelujah!