40 Days or Fry!
Daily Reflections, Thursday, August 14, 2008
Today's Scripture: Ephesians 4:32
Action grinds to a halt at bustling Nineveh Town Square as a man in the crowd screams at the top of his lungs: “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” The marketplace suddenly grows silent. No one dares utter a word as the prophet speaks. Every eye fixes on Jonah as he shares God’s Word with the people. Women clutch their babies tightly, busy shoppers freeze in their tracks, and fear sweeps across the entire assembly…
But the people took Jonah at his word. The whole city accepted his invitation. God was merciful and spared Nineveh. But then Jonah really blew it: he sulked and pouted when God didn’t destroy the 120,000+ he had won. I can’t imagine a man of God getting upset because a whole city got saved. After spending his life wanting to see people saved, he got mad God saved them.
Like Jonah, God has shown us mercy, but we demand His justice for our neighbors. We give them a strict “40 Days or Fry” lecture, insistingthey demonstrate the fruit of a changed life or else. Aren’t you glad God was patient with you? When you were dead in your sins, God didn’t wait for you to turn your life around. His mercy came running for you.
Have a little compassion. Show some kindness. Above all, remember the compassion your Savior has shown for you.
Today's Quote: Be kind to unkind people—they need it the most.
- Play:
- Title: "Forty Days or Fry"
- Length: 2:53 minutes (2.64 MB)
- Format: MP3 Stereo 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)
.gif){kind=small}
.gif){kind=small}