Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and proclaim to it the proclamation which I am going to tell you.” So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three days’ walk. Then Jonah began to go through the city one day’s walk; and he cried out and said, “Yet forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown.”
Then the people of Nineveh believed in God; and they called a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least of them. When the word reached the king of Nineveh, he arose from his throne, laid aside his robe from him, covered himself with sackcloth and sat on the ashes. He issued a proclamation and it said, “In Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let man, beast, herd, or flock taste a thing. Do not let them eat or drink water. But both man and beast must be covered with sackcloth; and let men call on God earnestly that each may turn from his wicked way and from the violence which is in his hands. Who knows, God may turn and relent and withdraw His burning anger so that we will not perish.”
When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it. ~ Jonah 3:1-10
Sometimes we think it’s not worth sharing the Gospel with certain people because they’re so evil. We don’t believe they will listen—and maybe they will mock us for our beliefs. But the people of Nineveh repented at Jonah’s preaching (though Jonah had tried to avoid going there in the first place). They were so evil that God had determined to destroy them, but he gave them one last chance and they repented. No one is beyond God’s grace—if the people of Nineveh turned from their wicked ways everyone we know can be saved as well.
Almighty God, forgive me for hesitating to share You with everyone I know. Forgive me for not believing that You can change the blackest heart. Give me the faith to tell others about You and to pray for their salvation. Speak Your words through my mouth. In the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. Amen.
Image: © Depositphotos.com/mgs999