A NEW IDENTITY

TEXT: JONAH 3:1-10

KEY VERSE: So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them” (Jonah 3:5)

Unlike some nations who became stiff-necked after repeated warnings from God, the people of Nineveh were contrite in spirit. They knew they had offended God and needed mercy. They also did not take God for granted; hence, their prompt response to Jonah’s simple message. The people of Nineveh did not wait to see any sign; they did not want to behold God’s angry frown. Jonah had been sent to the city of Nineveh to warn them of an impending doom as a result of their sin.

In the preceding chapters, Jonah had initially thought he could hide from the presence of God as he was reluctant to carry out the simple assignment until he suffered some strange punishments from Him. When he was rescued from the belly of a fish, he decided to preach to Nineveh.

The people received the message and repented in ashes and sackcloth. The king declared a national mourning for their collective sins and fasting to show their level of sorrow for sin. As in all cases of genuine repentance, the omnipotent and omniscient God decided to show mercy.

It’s glorious to read how a whole city moved from condemnation to justification. Nineveh got a new identity; they changed their status (2 Corinthians 5:17). It was now a new day for Nineveh. As they repented of their sins and turned to God in faith, they were spared.

Today, the same grace Nineveh appropriated is available to whosoever will humble him/herself. The Almighty is willing and able to forgive and forget. Today will be a day of grace for you if you, like the Ninevites, truly repent, forsake your sins and receive Christ as Saviour. God never despises a broken and a contrite heart.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY: God is more interested in forgiving sinners than in destroying them.
COVER to COVER: GENESIS 48-50.

PONDER:

1. Jonah's preaching lacked mercy and compassion because of his bigotry as shown in his message v4. He deliberately missed out repentance because he did not want them to repent 4:2. He was not faithful with the word of God.
2. What he missed out the Holy Spirit taught the Ninevites. They understood that if there is no opportunity to repent, sending Jonah is unnecessary. "In the day of salvation have I helped thee." They were helped of the LORD. Their repentance was total.
3. The Israelites were custodians of the Word and had many great, burdened and better prophets preaching to them but they never repented. What went wrong with Israel? 2 Peter 2:20-22. Read Jesus comparison of the 2 nations Luke 12:32.
4. The text shows the characteristics of true repentance as against modern day response to alter calls. What are those characteristics?
5. The text shows how a merited evil prophecy can be turned to a blessing.
6. A great lesson for sinners and soul winners. There is nobody God cannot save.

HYMN: Have you any room for Jesus?

1 Have you any room for Jesus,
He who bore your load of sin?
As He knocks and asks admission,
Sinner, will you let Him in?

Refrain:
Room for Jesus, King of Glory!
Hasten now, His Word obey.
Swing the heart’s door widely open;
Bid Him enter while you may.

2 Room for pleasure, room for business;
But for Christ, the Crucified,
Not a place that He can enter,
In the heart for which He died? [Refrain]

3 Room and time now give to Jesus;
Soon will pass God’s day of grace -
Soon your heart left cold and silent,
And your Savior’s pleading cease. [Refrain]

PRAYER POINTS:

1. If you are yet to repent of your sins or you have fallen into sin, you can give the room of your heart to Jesus now. He will forgive and cleanse.
2. If you have lost your calling like Jonah, you can come to Jesus and ask for a fresh commission.
3. Jonah was not faithful with the word of God. Consecrate not to allow your feelings to interfere with God's message at all times and ask God to be faithful as you "preach the word."
4. Ask God for God's visitation as of old in the church and outside so that repentance of sinners will always be genuine and not spurious.
5. Oh Lord, turn every evil prophecy pronounced against my life, whether known to me or not, into blessings.