The Wednesday Word 9.20.2023

 

Jonah 3:1-10 NLT

New Living Translation

1Then the LORD spoke to Jonah a second time: 2 “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh, and deliver the message I have given you.” 3 This time Jonah obeyed the LORD’s command and went to Nineveh, a city so large that it took three days to see it all. 4 On the day Jonah entered the city, he shouted to the crowds: “Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed!” 5 The people of Nineveh believed God’s message, and from the greatest to the least, they declared a fast and put on burlap to show their sorrow. 6 When the king of Nineveh heard what Jonah was saying, he stepped down from his throne and took off his royal robes. He dressed himself in burlap and sat on a heap of ashes. 7 Then the king and his nobles sent this decree throughout the city: “No one, not even the animals from your herds and flocks, may eat or drink anything at all. 8 People and animals alike must wear garments of mourning, and everyone must pray earnestly to God. They must turn from their evil ways and stop all their violence. 9 Who can tell? Perhaps even yet God will change his mind and hold back his fierce anger from destroying us.” 10 When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened.

 

There are times that God will tug, push, prod and poke at you. It may be like a whisper. It may come as a jolt. God will get your attention in some way. What you do in response may have profound consequences in your life and in the lives of people whose names you may not even know. You need not be a theological proficient. It may very well be that you have some serious issues of your own. There are myriad excuses we can find not to pay attention. That would be a big mistake. Jonah found that out the hard way. When Jonah finally followed God’s directive, amazing things happened. An entire population of people were turned from their path of destruction and came to know the Lord. 

 

Your sphere of influence may not be that wide. That is immaterial. Billy Graham started out leading prayer meetings at a trailer park and a downtown mission while in seminary. Mother Theresa set out to serve the sick in a corner of the Indian slums. Both these individuals wound up touching the lives of millions. The love and grace that you share today may reach countless others tomorrow. It could be what sets it all in motion. Only God knows…something to pray about.

 

Don’t forget to look for the Lord today. Vicki H. 


                                                                                         photo by Sincerely Media

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