FAITH CAPSULE: a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness

Jonah 1-4

Who is it or what is it that you cannot forgive? If you have anyone or situation that you cannot forgive begin to ask God to help you to forgive so you can move on in claiming your possession in Christ Jesus. One of the greatest gifts of God is the grace of God. Jesus Christ is loving, tenderhearted and will forgive anyone who chooses to receive and believe Him. The Bible states that the heart of man is evil and desperately wicked. Imagine Jonah’s selfish, inconsiderate and unforgiving heart. This was a man of God that clearly heard from God and made a choice of going against God. The Bible recorded in Jonah 1-3, “Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.” But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.”” Jonah heard clearly and directly from God and made his own move instead of obeying God. Jonah’s behavior was deliberate and conscious disobedience. God, in His consistent character had mercy on Jonah and delivered him from a terrible storm and out of the fish belly. God had wanted him to minister repentance to the people of Nineveh when he attempted to flee. Eventually, after God’s mercy had brought him out of the storm and out of the belly of the fish, he made his way and ministered salvation to the people of Nineveh. By virtue of his ministration, the people of Nineveh repented and God turned around His wrath unto forgiveness for the people of Nineveh. One would imagine that Jonah having experienced the mercy of God in forgiveness would celebrate with the people of Nineveh for God’s mercy. Rather, Jonah became angry and contested with God’s move to forgive the people of Nineveh. After God had forgiven the people of Nineveh, the Bible recorded, “But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. So he prayed to the LORD, and said, “Ah, LORD, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm.  Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live!” (Jonah 4:1-3) God is a good God. Let forgiving spirit have its place in your life.

Prayer for today: Ask God to plant in you the spirit of forgiveness.