AFTER WE ARE CONFRONTED
Nichol DeGroot
Today's Scripture: “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.” Jonah 3:5, ESV
Theme: After being confronted with our own sin, the correct action is repentance, regardless of our worldly status.
FACE-TO-FACE
God used Jonah to confront the people of Nineveh so they might come face to face with their sin. Can you imagine if the Lord sent someone into your life to make you confront your sin? How would that make you feel? Embarrassed, defensive, shameful? How about LOVED? Proverbs 3:11-12 (ESV) says, “My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.”
If you have ever been confronted with your sin, realize that the Creator of the universe chased you down because He didn’t want you to live the life that you had been living. He loves you so much that He sent someone into your life to lovingly have a hard conversation with you. Oddly enough, that’s pretty special.
BELIEF LED TO ACTION
Following the Lord takes action. Believing is not enough. The Bible says even the demons believe. But being a follower of the Lord means that you are working towards sanctification. Sanctification is the process of being made holy, clean and set apart for God’s special purposes. How do we work towards that? Repentance. Repentance isn’t just about asking forgiveness for our sins, but it’s also turning away from them and walking away from any association with it. In John 14:15 (ESV), Jesus says, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.“
In the story of Jonah, the people of Ninevah believed God. They didn’t simply hear His warning. They heard what Jonah preached, believed God, and their belief produced a response as the whole community repented in earnest, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes.
REPENTANCE IS HUMILITY, NOT HUMILIATION
God doesn’t want to bring your sin to the surface to humiliate you. He wants you to learn humility. A great quote from Rick Warren noted that humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less.
Our thoughts should be on Christ. Matthew 22:37 (ESV) says, “And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’” Proverbs 3:5-8 (ESV) says,
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones.”
Our lives should be proof of a real, living God. Our lives should reflect the love of our Savior Jesus, His grace, and His mighty hand on our lives.
REPENTANCE IS THE CORRECT RESPONSE TO CONVICTION
Conviction comes from the Holy Spirit. It is a gift. Conviction should lead us to repentance and restoration. Conviction is not condemnation. Condemnation comes from the enemy, Satan, and leads to shame and hiding.
Make It Personal: When God reveals sin in my life, what is my natural response? Do I run from God because I’m ashamed or do I run to God because I know He is the One who can forgive me and restore me?
What has God been confronting me about? Is there something I need to turn away from? Have I been making excuses for it?
Is there an area that God is asking me to humble myself?
Pray: Lord Jesus, I thank You for the people You have brought in my life to correct me. I thank You for the people who have gotten me back on the right track towards You instead of going another direction Lord, I thank You for the times that I’ve had to be a Jonah and had to have tough conversations that may have been uncomfortable. I know that these conversations could lead someone back to You and I shouldn’t run from that. Lord, allow me to stay humble to correction because I know You love me! Lord, continue to make me more like You. Reveal the things I need to change. When people look back at my life, I want them to see Your hand all over it! I love You and I praise You. I give You all the glory for what was, is, and is yet to come! In Your Name I pray, Jesus. Amen.
Read: Acts 3:19, Acts 2:38, Matthew 3:8, Romans 2:4
Weekly Memory Verse: “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” Psalm 51:17, ESV