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Today’s devotion is based on Sunday’s Message: Grace Relents (LISTEN HERE).

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Jonah 3:6 When the news 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 Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh:

“By the decree of the king and his nobles:

Do not let any man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. 8 But let man and beast 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.” 

Would the outcome of Nineveh had that same effect without the leadership of the king?

John Maxwell, a leadership guru, has made the claim, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.”  We’d be hard pressed to challenge this premise.  As the leader goes, so goes the people. 

The leadership of the king in bringing about the repentance of the city of Nineveh can’t be underestimated. Consider his other actions.  He could have condemned Jonah and anyone who listened to him.  He could have been passively supportive, but never engaged himself.  And the outcome no doubt would have been different.

How much the king of Nineveh knew about the God Jonah proclaimed we don’t know for sure, but we know he understood the justice of God and that the deeds of the city of Nineveh deserved the wrath of God.  He doesn’t justify the behavior.  He doesn’t make his people into victims of circumstances.  He simply encourages and directs the people to give up their evil ways and violence.  

He understood something about the grace of God as he appealed to his compassion that would lead him to turn from his fierce anger and spare them.  Without saying it, he recognized that Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death (2 Corinthians 7:10).

The result?

Jonah 3:10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened.

The repentance of the people did not go unnoticed by the Lord.  He not only saw a change of behavior, he saw a change of heart and did not treat the city as their sins deserved.

Godly leadership is a blessing wherever it shows up.  This past weekend we marked Fathers’ Day.  Godly dads doing their best to lead under the leadership of Christ provide guidance in the boundaries of God, call to repentance when the will of God is broken, and model the compassion of God that forgives and restores.  The influence of a godly father in the home is vital.  Statistically the spiritual climate of the home is directed by the spiritual activity of a father.  Mom’s are working hard when dads are absent…but dad’s, don’t make mom’s go it alone.  Step up to the role that God in his grace has given you to a) be directed by the grace of God yourself and b) direct your family to know, love and live in the grace of God together.  There is only one legacy that will last and that is the legacy of faith that prevails after life on this world ends.

To be sure, godly leadership is a blessing wherever it shows up.  To the extent that you have influence in someone’s life, you have leadership opportunity.  Take the example of the king of Nineveh and guide people away from sin to the compassionate grace of the Lord who loves and cares for them deeply.

 

Apply: Where do you have an opportunity to show godly leadership today?  With God’s help, go for it!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for leading me to know and love you.  Use me in whatever leadership roles you place me to be an influence for your love and grace.  AMEN.

Today’s devotion is based on Sunday’s Message: Grace Relents (LISTEN HERE).

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Are boundaries good?

Honestly, sometimes they can be frustrating.  Ask the teenager who has a curfew at midnight whose friends can stay out as late as they want.  Ask the driver on the highway in the middle of the night with few cars around wondering why they have to drive at 55 mph.  Ask the child who is limited to two snacks when it seems like there is enough for every child to have 10.

Some boundaries can be challenging to understand and thus abide by.

But boundaries provide safety.

Ask the motorist who had a severe blow out on a bridge and lost control and hit the barrier that prevented them from plummeting into the waters below.  Ask the teenager whose friends who were arrested for vandalism done in the early morning hours when he left to be home by midnight.  Ask the customer at Home Depot who had to wait behind a safety strap as a worker was moving material…only to see a pallet of blocks come crashing down where they would have been shopping.

Boundaries provide safety.

While we may balk at some boundaries, the motivation in most cases is a heart that loves the person enough to keep them from unnecessarily harming themselves or causing harm to others.  Enforcing boundaries is done for two reasons.  First, it reinforces the importance of the boundary (if it didn’t matter, it wouldn’t be enforced.) and second, it provides a consequence that will deter or prevent the person from breaking the boundary and suffering perhaps worse than the consequence.

God sets up boundaries that he summarized in the 10 Commandments.  These ten guide individuals in their relationship to God and to others.  They protect our hearts, our relationships, our material goods and much more.  There are also consequences if they are broken.  Ultimately, breaking the boundaries of God sets up the justice of God to separate us from God forever.

But God doesn’t want this.

So he, in his love, calls us to repentance.  He points out sin in our lives, which can hurt and we don’t like, but he does it because he wants the best for us.  The Apostle Paul knew this as he was in a position to be called to repentance and also call others to repentance.  But the goal of bringing repentance was the salvation of souls.

2 Corinthians 7:8 Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— 9 yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. 10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

Sorrow is not, “I’m sorry I got caught,” but rather sorrow that realizes I have broken the loving boundary of God and realize the spiritual danger I am in.  Godly sorrow leads to repentance, a change of mind and heart to what I was doing back to the mind and heart of God.  The result? Salvation and no regret.

And that is exactly what our loving God wants for us and its why in his grace he calls us to repentance.

 

Apply: What area of life do you hear God’s call to repentance?  How does it make you feel?  What blessing is God trying to have you realize?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the boundaries you place in my life to bring blessing to my life.  Thank you for pointing out sin in my life and calling me to repentance so I might have no regret and experience your salvation.  AMEN.

Today’s devotion is based on Sunday’s Message: Grace Relents (LISTEN HERE).

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“Here, try again.”

In golf we call it a “mulligan”…a “do-over.”  In life we call it a “second chance.”

Mistakes are easy to come by and often we wish we had a second chance, but don’t get one.  Ask the person who glanced at their phone and had an auto accident…I wish I could do it over.  Ask the person who chose to not study for a test and missed passing by one point…I wish I could do it over.  Ask the person who had one too many drinks and ended up in jail for DUI…I wish I could do it over.

Getting a second chance is a gift of grace.  Life doesn’t always afford a second chance, but God’s grace does.

God gives Jonah a second chance.  His first call sent him in the opposite direction of Nineveh, the cause of a violent storm, and a drowning experience in the sea.

The second chance began with God sending a great fish who preserved Jonah’s life, but then was confirmed in this way:

Jonah 3:1-2  Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”

Jonah didn’t waste the second chance.

Jonah 3:3 Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very important city—a visit required three days.

God certainly would have had every right to dismiss Jonah and move on to another prophet.  He could have banished Jonah from doing his work for running in the opposite direction.

But the grace of God gives a second chance…to Jonah…and to us.

The reality is he’s given us third chances, fourth chances, three thousand and fifty-sixth chances.

In the Fifth Petition of the Lord’s Prayer, we recognize our need for more chances, but that we don’t deserve them:

And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

What does this mean? We pray in this petition that our Father in heaven would not look at our sins, or deny our prayer because of them. We are neither worthy of the things for which we pray, nor have we deserved them, but we ask that He would give them all to us by grace, for we daily sin much and surely deserve nothing but punishment. So we too will sincerely forgive and gladly do good to those who sin against us.

Even as we recognize that God has every right NOT to give us a second chance when we sin, it is very much in his nature to do so: 

Exodus 34:5 Then the Lord came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the Lord. 6 And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7 maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”

The opening of Jonah 3 is a powerful phrase…”The Word of the Lord came to Jonah a SECOND time…” 

Never forget the grace of God is willing to give second chances to you, just as he did to Jonah.

 

Apply: Where has the Lord in his grace given you a second chance?  How did you respond to another opportunity to obey and and walk with the Lord?

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for having a heart of grace that is willing to give me second chances when I know in my sin I don’t deserve them.  AMEN.

(Reprinted from Fathers’ Day – 2022)

We begin the Lord’s prayer with the words, “Our Father in heaven.”  Each of these words or phrases is so significant.  “Our” implies a personal relationship we have.  “Father” implies the role God plays in our life. “In heaven”…why is that so important?

This short phrase distinguishes our requests we present to our earthly fathers from our heavenly father.  It does not diminish the importance of our earthly fathers, but rather heightens the blessing of having a heavenly father.  Jesus highlighted one:

Jesus said 9 “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:9-11)

Our heavenly Father has perspective.

Earthly dads desire the best and want to give their best to their children.  Magnify that exponentially and one realizes they have a heavenly father who perfectly knows what is best for his children…and welcomes your request.

Our heavenly Father has an even larger and bigger perspective than our earthly fathers.  Sometimes our dads have or do withhold giving something because they know that it is not the best for their child.  As a child this can be frustrating, and perhaps only the perspective of time will allow us to see that dad really did know and do what was best.  How much more our relationship with our heavenly Father.  We can always trust that he knows and gives what is best…even if it doesn’t match what WE think is best.

Our heavenly Father is perfect.

This means a lot to me as an earthly dad.  I am not perfect.  My girls know that well.  I am grateful that I have a heavenly Father who is willing to forgive and restore when I fail.  I treasure that my girls always have a perfect heavenly Father to whom to look up when they see shortcomings in their earthly dad.

Our heavenly Father portrays pure justice and unconditional love.

No better example have I found to understand the balance God has of justice and love than to be in the role of a dad.  The two, justice and love, are perfectly compatible and one should not be overlooked for the sake of the other.  Justice can not exist without love and love without justice.  What do I mean?  It is loving to have boundaries and limits to life.  Justice from God is real because he gives us those boundaries in which to live so that we experience the greatest blessings on this earth and in heaven.  Just like a father tells his child, “Don’t run in the street” because he desires his child to not experience getting hit by a car.  In fact, if the child runs in the street, he may be disciplined to know the seriousness of the infraction and how much dad loves his child to ensure it doesn’t happen again.  Love from God is real because he desires the eternal blessing of his children.  Love is not a boundary-less grant to a child to do whatever they want.  Love desires to guide a child in the way of righteousness and to the eternal blessings of heaven.  I treasure that my heavenly Father is perfectly both and as an earthly dad can learn from his examples of justice and love.

Our heavenly Father is present…always.

Earthly dads get busy with work, hobbies, chores, and just life in general.  Sometimes we are not as present for our children as we would like.  Our heavenly Father is available 24/7…every day to listen to our prayers, remind us of his promises and guide us with his Word.

Earthly dads are great and a blessing from the Lord.  How much greater a blessing we have to be able to call God, “Our Father IN HEAVEN.”

Apply: What other blessings do you receive from your Father in heaven that is better and more perfect than from your father on earth?

Prayer: Our Father in heaven, thank you Father for your eternal perspective, your perfect love and justice, and your ongoing presence.  We treasure that you have thought enough of us to bring us into an eternal relationship with you! AMEN.

(This week’s devotions are based on Sunday’s message: Grace for All…Grace Pursues – LISTEN HERE)

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Jonah 2:8 “Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.

Of all the parts of Jonah’s prayer, this verse jumped off the page. For a few reasons.

Why would Jonah make this statement?  Was this a self-reflective statement or was he reflecting on people with whom he had interacted?  Was it a reflection on the sailors who threw him overboard that tried crying out to their gods before turning to the Lord?  Was it a reflection of the wicked people of Nineveh who were throwing out the grace the Lord wanted to show them?  To be honest, I am not sure and could be all of the above.

Regardless of who Jonah had in mind, the statement is absolute truth.

Jonah finishes his prayer in this way:

         9      But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. 

         What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the LORD.” 

Jonah realized that other idols promised worthless claims.  The only God who not only promises but provides salvation from our sins is the LORD.  The LORD is the only one who is full of grace and abounding in love and faithfulness.

So why do we forfeit grace by clinging to worthless idols?

Who, me?  Yes, you.

Because we think that the idol to which we are clinging can provide what only the grace of God can provide.  What do I mean?

We cling to the idol of material wealth because we think that in it we find peace and security for life and the opportunities that life brings.

We cling to the idol of reputation and fame because we think that in it we find our identity and significance.

We cling to the idol of relationships and friendships because in them we think we find true love and care.

We cling to the idol of self-reliance because in it we think we find freedom and independence.

Perhaps we do…and then we don’t because we realize our idol has become worthless.  

The now late Christian pastor and author Tim Keller wrote in his book “Counterfeit Gods” that eventually everything that is an idol will let us down.  Wealth can be taken away, relationships broken, reputation ruined, friendships separated.

So as Jonah said, “Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.”

Having no other gods other than the Lord is not just the first commandment, it is the foundation of life.  The Lord is the one from whom all blessings flow not material wealth, relationships, reputation, etc.  The Lord is the only one who is gracious and compassionate and slow to anger and willing to forgive, not a man-made god or man himself.

Too often I have forfeited the full experience of God’s love and grace because I have clung to worthless idols in my heart.  Lord forgive me.  Perhaps you can relate.

When we see it first in ourselves, we see it in the world around us that people are forfeiting grace because their fingers are clutching idols they think are of utmost value, but are worthless.

The grace of God turns us from that which is worthless to that which is worthwhile.

 

Apply: Get a copy of Tim Keller’s book, “Counterfeit Gods.”  Enjoy the work through his words for the Spirit of God to release your clutch on that which is worthless and strengthen your grip on that which is worthwhile.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for shifting my heart from the worthless idols I love to cling to to you, the only one who truly loves, forgives and shows grace.  AMEN.

Note: You can find a sermon series on Counterfeit Gods from 2021 on our CrosspointGTX1 youtube channel.  Here’s the link to the first sermon of the series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbdvMHxEJGo