WHEN GRACE CHANGES EVERYTHING
When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.
Jonah 3:10 (NIV)
Every time I read the story of Jonah, I am struck by how God’s grace can change even the hardest hearts. The people of Nineveh were violent and corrupt. By all human standards, they were too far gone. Yet when Jonah finally obeyed and preached God’s warning, they listened. They humbled themselves, turned from their sin, and cried out for mercy. And God forgave them.
I have seen glimpses of that same grace in my own life. There were times when I resisted God’s direction, convinced I knew better, and yet He pursued me anyway. I’ve also seen Him restore people I was convinced would never change. Watching that transformation reminded me that no one is beyond God’s reach. His mercy is always wider than our judgment, and His patience runs deeper than our doubts.
Jonah struggled to accept God’s compassion for the Ninevites. I understand that struggle. It’s easy to thank God for forgiving me, but harder to rejoice when He forgives someone who has hurt others or lived in open rebellion. As the older brother in the story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) reveals, I must guard my heart from jealousy, bitterness, pride and unforgiveness when God gives what I might feel is undeserved grace. God keeps reminding me that His heart is not like mine. He longs for everyone to turn to Him, even those I may find difficult to love.
If I’m not careful, I can become like Jonah, sitting outside the city walls, frustrated that grace reached someone else. But when grace truly takes hold of my heart, it softens my posture toward others. It reminds me that the same mercy that rescued me is meant to flow through me. When grace breaks through, judgment turns to mercy, enemies become brothers and sisters, and the lost are found. That is the beauty of the Gospel.
APPLICATION: Think about someone you may have given up on. Bring that person before God today. Ask Him to give you compassion and faith to believe that He can still change their heart. Pray that He would also change yours to match His.
PRAYER: Father, thank You for the grace that reached me when I did not deserve it. Forgive me for the times I have been slow to show mercy to others. Help me believe that no one is too far from Your love. Let my life reflect the hope of forgiveness and the power of grace that changes everything. Amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?