IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

Jonah Preached and They Believed

Date: Aug. 30, 2014

Passage

Jonah 3:1-10 (ESV)

Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you.” So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days’ journey in breadth. Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them.

The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.”

10 When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 3:5

And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them.

First, Jonah was called to preach God's message (1-4). Jonah was to preach what God told him to preach: a message of judgment to a powerful city. We are also called to preach God's message to the popular culture without compromising it. Such a message is unpopular. But we should never give into the social consensus. God wants all people to come to repentance and salvation. His message is the only message that can purge idols, bring forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

Second, a miracle happened (5-10). When Jonah obeyed, a miracle happened. The city repented. God honored Jonah's preaching and their response. We are tempted to think that nobody would listen to God's message. But if we simply proclaim what we know about God, we will be surprised at how many people will listen. Expect great things from God when we preach his word.

Prayer: "Lord, your love and mercy compel me to obey your word. Help me to speak your word to whomever you want me share it with. I know you will bless it."

One Word: Hold out the word of God. God will work through his word.

Daily Bread

A Savior Has Been Born to You

Luke 2:1-14

Key Verse: 2:11

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Intro Daily