Today’s reading: Romans 2:25-29; Jonah 3:6

The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

Jonah 3:6

I’m embarrassed to admit this, but a couple months ago I had to spend a whole Saturday attending a Traffic Safety Awareness program in Republic. Why? Because I didn’t take the law seriously enough.

I wasn’t speeding on purpose; I just wasn’t paying attention to the way my speed compared with the posted speed limit. But after being pulled over, I learned there was enough difference between the two to merit an invitation to the Christian County Courthouse. That’s where I learned to take the law more seriously. As a result, I’m now much more careful about how fast I drive – especially on the way home from Nixa.

The king of Ninevah had a similar wake-up call. The prophet Jonah, fresh from his undersea tour in the belly of a fish, had warned the king, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” And the king believed him!

Scripture says he “covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes,” demonstrating to Jonah, to the people, and to God Himself that he was taking God’s warning seriously. He was admitting his sin and repenting from his evil ways. As a result, the king and his people were saved.

When God uses His law to confront me with my sin, I pray that I will take it seriously and turn to Him in repentant faith. If my sin is serious enough that it takes the blood of Jesus to pay for it, then I don’t want to treat it lightly. Praise God for His forgiveness in Jesus Christ!

Prayer:

Father, thank you for loving me despite my sin, and for sending Jesus to pay sin’s price on my behalf.

Contributed by Rev. Stephen Moser