SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 10/19/2025 10:11 AM
My Worship Time Focus: PT-2 “Intro to Jonah 3:1-5”
Bible Reading and Meditation Reference: Jonah 3:1-5
Message of the verses: “Now the word of Yahweh came to Jonah the second time, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, the great city, and call out to it this very call which I am going to speak to you.” So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh according to the word of Yahweh. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three day’s walk. Then Jonah began to go into the city, one day’s walk; and he called out and said, “Yet forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” And the people of Nineveh believed in God; and they called a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them.”
I will continue to quote from John MacArthur’s commentary on the introduction to Jonah 3:1-5 this morning.
“Such grace upon grace does not give anyone a license to sin. Paul addressed that issue in Romans 6:1 by asking, ‘What shall we say then? Are we to continue to sin so that grace may increase?’ He emphatically answered: ‘May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?’ (Rom. 6:2). God’s grace never condones sinful conduct, but rather transforms the wicked heart into one that is eager to worship the Lord and walk in obedience to His Word (cf. 6:2-4).” “2 May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.” “When Zacchaeus turned to follow Christ, his change of heart was immediately manifested in a change of life. He exclaimed, ‘Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor, and if I have extorted anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much’ (Luke 19:8). After Peter was restored he professed his love for Jesus with three words: ‘Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You’ (John 21:17). Paul was transformed from being a persecutor to being a preacher whose life was defined by his allegiance to the Lord Jesus: ‘For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain’ (Phil. 1:21). In Ephesians 2:10, Paul explained that God’s gracious work of salvation, which is received through faith apart from works, inevitably results in His equally gracious work of sanctification, in which the reality of saving faith is evidenced by the fruit of good works. Paul wrote: ‘For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them’ (Eph. 2:10). The Lord demonstrates His grace toward sinners by calling them to turn from sin and turn to Him, so that they might be forgiven and walk in newness of life (cf. Rom. 6:4-5; 1 Thess. 1:9).” “4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection” “9 For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God.”
“The prophet Jonah is one of the clearest examples in Scripture of a wayward sinner who repented and was graciously delivered by God and restored to service. Jonah 3 reveals that God issued a second commission for His prophet to go and preach to Nineveh. While Jonah could not undo his act of disobedience (cf. Jonah 1), God mercifully granted him a second opportunity to obey. Though initially rebellious, the repentant prophet was, by unparalleled chastisement, made willing to comply with his Master’s command (cf. Matt. 21:28-30). In His grace, the Lord recommissioned Jonah to serve as His missionary (Johan 3:1-3a), to proclaim His message (3:3b-4), and to reach the great multitude who lived in Nineveh (3:5).”
Spiritual Meaning for My Life Today: I have to say that I am learning a lot from the book of Jonah, with the help of John MacArthur’s commentary, and am getting a new perspective on this OT prophet. I know that the Lord has given me, like He did Jonah second chances, and probably many more than second chances, and for that I am thankful, and it is my desire to learn from those new chances that the Lord has and is giving me.
My Steps of Faith for Today: It is my desire to do what the Lord is calling me to do so that by learning I will not need those extra chances for me to get things right.
10/19/2025 10:37 AM
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