today's meditation (Jonah 3) Having Remorse

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Jonah 3:1-10) Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, the great city, and proclaim to it the proclamation which I am going to tell you.” 3 So Jonah got up and went to Nineveh according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days’ walk. 4 Then Jonah began to go through the city one day’s walk; and he cried out and said, “Forty more days, and Nineveh will be overthrown.”

5 Then the people of Nineveh believed in God; and they called a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them. 6 When the word reached the king of Nineveh, he got up from his throne, removed his robe from himself, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat on the dust. 7 And he issued a proclamation, and it said, “In Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles: No person, animal, herd, or flock is to taste anything. They are not to eat, or drink water. 8 But every person and animal must be covered with sackcloth; and people are to call on God vehemently, and they are to turn, each one from his evil way, and from the violence which is in their hands. 9 Who knows, God may turn and relent, and turn from His burning anger so that we will not perish.”

10 When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their evil way, then God relented of the disaster which He had declared He would bring on them. So He did not do it.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

Just as Jonah, who knew God and knew better, had finally turned to the Lord in prayer to be saved from the fish at the brink of death, the people of Nineveh repented and turned to the Lord to be saved.  Just as Jonah could have died in the fish but would have gone to heaven because he was a believer, the people of Nineveh who had become believers would have also gone to heaven, even if God had still destroyed the city.  But God decided to spare the people, just as He had spared Jonah.

Now it is very interesting that in these times, or maybe it is more about in these cultures, who worship gods and go to extremes of showing remorse and trying to win favor, that they automatically approach the Lord like this.  God doesn't expect sackcloth and ashes or sitting in the dirt - it is all about the condition of our hearts.  When someone goes to Him for salvation, or when believers go to Him to confess, God knows if we are sincere when our hearts and minds are humble and there is remorse, ready to accept and embrace His peace and joy.

In our relationship and walk with Jesus, His grace is always there, and it is amazing.  We cannot lose our salvation but let us not take it for granted.  God still hates sin, so our sin causes us to move away from Him.  Again, no need for sackcloth and ashes, but let us make our confessions to Him with a sincere and contrite heart that wants to stop sinful behavior and continue to cling to Him for His help, guidance and strength.