Scripture:
9 But God said to Jonah, “Do you do well to be angry for the plant?” And he said, “Yes, I do well to be angry, angry enough to die.” 10 And the Lord said, “You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. 11 And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?” (Jonah 4:9-11)
Observation: God knows what is sin and God knows how He wishes to deal with it. We cannot always know God's plan and often times we must wait on God to show us. God will make all things clear in His perfect timing. Judgement, condemnation, grace, and forgiveness are all outcomes that are possible...the last 2 are available for those who acknowledge God's sovereignty, that Jesus was His son and that He paid the price for our sins on the cross once and for all.
Application: There is NO SIN GREATER THAN ANOTHER. Do not get wrapped up in the sin, get wrapped up in the unfathomable grace that God has shown us by sending Jesus to die for our sin. We must get to the point where we realize how wretched we are and how desperately we need a savior. We must acknowledge that apart from Christ, we are filthy, dirty, detestable. How merciful is God that He would send His only son to die a brutal death on a cross so that we could be reconciled to Himself? We know in our own hearts exactly how evil we are. We know our thoughts, emotions, struggles...and so does God. Salvation from sin and ourselves is available by approaching the throne of grace. Laying your life before Jesus and making Him Lord of your life.
Prayer: Father, You are good, holy, and mighty to save. Thank You for sending Jesus because You knew that we are filthy, dirty, sinners, in need of a Savior. He took the punishment for our sin and Your grace and mercy was poured out upon us. May we receive it not with a contrite heart, but with one that has been renewed and changed by You. Amen!
