Forgiveness Sets You Free

Forgiveness Sets You Free "Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me." Jonah 1:2 It is sad to think how much sin is committed in our great cities. Their wickedness, as that of Nineveh, is a bold and open affront to God. God told Jonah that he must go at once to Nineveh, and there, on the spot, cry against the wickedness of it. Jonah would not go. The reason for Jonah not wanting to go was because he wanted them to get what they had coming to them. He wanted them to suffer from the wrath of God, because he felt they deserved it. But the Lord wanted to give Nineveh a chance to get its act together. Throughout our lives, the Lord is warning us, that we are sinners, just like the people of Nineveh, but so many have not listened. However, God is patient just as he was with Nineveh, and is wanting to give us one more chance to also get our act together. He may be calling you today to be the Jonah of this day, and has placed on your heart to go out and witness to someone and tell them about Christ and His plan of salvation. It may be someone that may have harmed you in the past, possibly a friend, a co-worker, a schoolmate, or even a family member. You may be as Jonah was, and haven't gone to warn them about the penalties of their sins, because of the unjustifiable things they did to you. You want them to pay for their sins against you, and you are holding a grudge. If you find yourself in this position, a grudge is something that can swallow you up like the great fish that swallowed Jonah. If you are not able to forgive, it will eat you alive...literally. Therefore if God is calling you to go out and tell someone about the saving grace of Jesus, you must let nothing stand in your way. Forgiveness spits us out of the fish's belly and back onshore to dry land and daylight. Forgiveness in liberating and sets you free. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven April 21