You Already Have Mercy! Jesus Has Changed His Mind About YOU!

Jonah 3:6-10 New International Version

6 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. 7 This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh: “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. 8 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. 9 Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.” 10 When 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.

Thursday - August 19

“Repentance” means “to change your mind.” It is like walking down a road in one direction and then “repenting” or turning around and heading back in the opposite direction. The people of Nineveh “repented” from their “evil ways and their violence” and cried out to God for mercy. They hoped that God, also, might repent and “turn from His fierce anger.” The amazing thing is that God DID repent! God relented, repented and “changed His mind” about them! God’s wrath is a very real thing. God does not want evil, wickedness, or violence. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want those things either, even in my own heart and life. God will “clean up” the world. As Rev. 21:4 says, “There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” But not you! Because Jesus has made a way for you, so repent! Turn to Him! He has “changed His mind” about YOU! You have received mercy!