Today we hear of Jonah’s mission from God which he accepts reluctantly (remember the whale?) (Jonah 3:1-10).  Jonah is to warn the pagan Assyrian capital of Nineveh that destruction is at hand.  Earlier in the book we  hear that Jonah, no fan of the city, would prefer to see it destroyed, thus his reluctance to even attempt to convert them.  Yet Jonah does God’s bidding and the king of Nineveh repents (and all the people as well).

The word of God is powerful.  It can turn even the hardest hearts to Him.  As a lesson for today, it seems that we would be better off praying for our society than bemoaning its sinfulness.  In addition, we should proclaim Scripture unabashedly, as we are supposed to, in the face of scoffers and unbelievers, recognizing that the Lord can work miracles with the most hardened sinners through the power of His word which does not go forth without effect.  Let us become immersed in the Bible so that we are more effective proclaimers and livers of the Gospel.