Jonah 3:1-5, 10 (NRSV)
Read Jonah 3:1-5, 10 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 3The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying, Verse 2"Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you." Verse 3So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days' walk across. Verse 4Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's walk. And he cried out, "Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!"
Verse 5And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth. Verse 10When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it.
Devotion
Nineveh, capital of the Assyrian Empire, was "an exceedingly great city," known for its wickedness and immorality. Jonah’s God-given task to walk through the streets preaching a message of repentance was a monumental one, from which we can take many lessons. One in particular stands out: the need to repent and seek God's way. Jonah's message is universal. The same admonition was given by John the Baptist (Matt. 3:1) and Jesus himself (Matt. 4:17).
It’s as relevant now as ever. Cities of today, as well as individuals, need this message. Repentance is never easy. It is not casual or superficial. It probes deeply and touches our inner being. But it is necessary. It opens the door to the gracious good news of the gospel. Repentance and faith; lawful conviction and comforting gospel – this is the order of salvation. The people of Nineveh believed God. They repented. In a fundamental way we connect with these ancient idol worshippers.
Prayer
God, grant us power to confess our sin, to repent daily and to accept the good news that we have been rescued by the death and resurrection of Christ our Lord. Amen.