Jonah made a small shelter outside the city on a hill overlooking the city of Nineveh. He was waiting to see if God would bring down His judgment on the city. While there, the Lord God provided a leafy plant and made it grow over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant. But at dawn the next day, God provided a worm and chewed the plant and withered. When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah's head so that he grew faint. Jonah wished to die and was angry at the plant that withered. But God said to Jonah, "Is it right for you to be angry about the plant? You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?" (Jonah 4:5-11).
Jonah was very disappointed because the Lord did not bring judgment to the city of Nineveh. In the midst of Jonah's anger, the Lord kept on ministering to Jonah. God knew that Jonah was more concerned about the plant than the people of Nineveh. God used the plant to let Jonah know that He was more concerned with the people of Nineveh than any other things, such as plants. Since all people are created in the image of God, God's mission is to save all people from sin. As a result, He rejoices when people repent of their sins no matter what they have done. And this is for all of us. No matter what we have done in the past, God can forgive us. Similarly, God forgives those who hurt and offended us no matter what they did to us. I think there is not a person in this world that never offended anyone. All of us are guilty of offending anyone, and in God's eyes, all sins are offensive to Him and need to be forgiven.
When we stand before God, we all need forgiveness, including those who offended us. We do not have the right not to forgive. We must forgive just as God has forgiven us. All the past hurts and offenses that others have done to us must be surrendered to God, and let Him heal us so that we may be completely restored.
Ask yourself these questions for application: (Think through carefully and meditate on the questions while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you) Do I have the right not to forgive? What should I do if I am having difficulty forgiving? Why is it important for me to forgive?
Write down all the worries you face today and lift them up to God.
Prayer:
Father in Heaven, thank you for forgiving all my sins. I can forgive those who have hurt and offended me by your strength. Please help me forgive so I can have your peace in my heart and honor your name. I pray for those who hurt and offended me that their hearts will be drawn to you and come to repentance so their lives will be changed. I pray for reconciliation. In your name Lord Jesus, I pray. Amen.
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