January 22, 2024 

Today's Reading: Jonah 3:1-5, 10

Daily Lectionary: Joel 2:1-17; Romans 11:1-24

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. (Jonah 3:10)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. “Is that a threat or a promise?” is an appropriate response to the message the Lord sent to Nineveh through His prophet Jonah.  “Forty days and Nineveh will be destroyed!”  For Jonah, this was a promise. The Ninevehites were the enemy of the Lord’s people in Judah, and their demise would be good news for the Lord’s people.  On the other hand, the people of Nineveh took these words as a threat, and they repented of their great evil.  From the greatest of the least of the people of Nineveh, they covered themselves and even their animals in sackcloth. They also fasted during this time of repentance. They took the Lord’s word of judgment seriously.  The Lord relented from the threat.  The destruction that He threatened was canceled. The serious threat of God’s judgment was not carried out.  The Lord revealed His goodness by not destroying Nineveh.

What about you? When you hear the severity of the Lord’s judgment against your sinfulness, do you take it seriously?  You might try to rationalize your sin, arguing that it’s not that bad and it’s not really hurting anyone.  You might protest that what Scripture calls sinful shouldn’t really be sinful. After all, your logic might go, the Scriptures were written many years ago and the times have changed. No matter how you might protest against the Lord’s judgment, you should fear His wrath.  The holy God does not tolerate your sinfulness. Psalm 5:4-5 says, “For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you. The boastful shall not stand before Your eyes; You hate all evildoers.” Those are harsh words that show the severity of the Lord’s judgment against sin. There is no wiggle room in God’s expectations.  That’s a threat indeed!

Even your repentance is imperfect. Even when you repent from your sin, it’s not perfect.  Sometimes mistakes continue to happen and you return to your sin. You cannot live a perfect life, no matter how hard you try.  It seems like the Lord’s threat is still hanging over your head. That is why He sent His one and only Son into the flesh. Jesus Christ died for you, and all who believe in Him are saved. The Lord didn’t cancel His threatening judgment, but Jesus, who knew no sin, became your sin so that you have the righteousness of God.  (2 Corinthians 5:21)  

There, on the cross, you see the threat answered by the promise of God’s mercy and love for you. You are forgiven by your gracious God in His care for you. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Though great our sins, yet greater still  Is God’s abundant favor;  His hand of mercy never will Abandon us, nor waver. Our shepherd good and true is He, Who will at last His Israel free From all their sin and sorrow. (LSB 607:5)

-Pastor Peter W. Ill is pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church, Millstadt, Illinois.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, Ky.

The Lutheran Reader’s Bible helps you develop a habit of devotion and Bible reading so you can slowly but intentionally understand and grow in God’s Word. Through introductions to the sixty-six books of the Bible, guided reading plans, and more, this Bible builds your confidence to study Scripture on your own.