As I review Jonah 3:3-4, I read “Jonah obeyed the LORD and went to Nineveh. The city was so big that it took three days just to walk through it. After walking for a day, Jonah warned the people, ‘Forty days from now, Nineveh will be destroyed!’” (CEV)
I need to remember that God's word is for everyone. In the book of Jonah, I see that despite the wickedness of the Ninevite people, they were open to God's message and repented immediately. If I simply proclaim what I know about God, I too may be surprised at how many people will listen.
When God sent Jonah to Nineveh, his mission was to warn the people about the severe consequences for their disobedience. God wanted them to know that his judgment was near, but that they still had a chance to repent and obey him. God wanted to give the people of Nineveh a second chance.
But he had to give Jonah a second chance, as well, because the prophet was sitting in a big fish. Once God rescued him, the Bible says, “Jonah obeyed the Lord and went to Nineveh. The city was so big that it took three days just to walk through it. After walking for a day, Jonah warned the people, ‘Forty days from now, Nineveh will be destroyed!’” (Jonah 3:3-4 CEV).
A warning is cautionary advice about a danger, trap, or problem. And God sometimes brings people into our lives to warn us because we’re not listening to God’s warning.
More than 100 verses in the New Testament tell me to warn others. It’s part of my responsibility as followers of Jesus.
In Acts 20:31, Paul writes: “Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears” (NIV).
Paul says he warned the Ephesians “with tears.” He did this, because he loved them!
God gives all believers the ministry of warning others. When I warn someone, it shows that I love God and that person. For instance, if you knew a bridge was out and you saw someone driving toward it at 50 miles per hour, the loving thing to do is to warn them.
If I love the people in my life, I’ll warn them of the consequences of their unwise actions or decisions, because a godly warning is an act of love.
In summary, Jonah obeyed and warned the people, Despite my feelings I too need to remember that God's word is for everyone. Despite the wickedness, the Ninevite people were open to God's message and repented immediately. If I simply proclaim what I know about God, I too may be surprised at how many people will listen. In this situation, God wanted to give the people of Nineveh a second chance. But he had to give Jonah a second chance, A warning is cautionary advice about a danger, trap, or problem. And God sometimes brings people into our lives to warn us because we’re not listening to His warning. More than 100 verses in the New Testament tell me to warn others. It’s part of my responsibility as followers of Jesus. God gives all believers the ministry of warning others. When I warn someone, it shows that I love God and that person. If I love the people in my life, I’ll warn them of the consequences of their unwise actions or decisions, because a godly warning is an act of love.
Letting others know about God’s Good News and helping them by giving them a warning should become a key part of my mission as I move forward. Father, I feel as if I don’t really have the right opportunity to share or that I’m prying if I do. I ask with the help of the Holy Spirit in my life, that I can encouragement and the gumption to find opportunities to do so. I also ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my relationships, my leadership and my interactions with others. I ask these things through your Son Jesus’ name, amen.
