Our God Who Pursues: Guiding Us Back to HimНамуна

Week 2: Trusting God Wholeheartedly

God’s Great Grace

Read: Jonah 4

SOAP: Jonah 4:2

"He prayed to the Lord and said, “Oh, Lord, this is just what I thought would happen when I was in my own country. This is what I tried to prevent by attempting to escape to Tarshish, because I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in mercy, and one who relents concerning threatened judgment."

Into the Text

As believers, we are thankful that salvation is a gift of grace. But, have you ever stopped and really considered what grace is? Grace is God’s unmerited favor. It is getting something we do not deserve.

In Jonah chapter 4, Jonah is wrestling with God’s character, especially His grace. Jonah knew that God’s character never changes. He is a God of grace, compassion, patience, and mercy. To that, we say, “Hallelujah!” Without these never-changing characteristics, we would die in our sins and have absolutely no hope.

But when we take our eyes off of ourselves and our loved ones, grace is a hard concept to embrace. God’s grace in salvation can take the worst of offenders, the worst of angry people, the worst of cheaters and liars and make them whole and brand new. Their sins can be forgiven if they respond in repentance and faith. We wonder if that’s really fair.

We may say that we are thankful that God’s grace is so great, but we hesitate when it comes to God forgiving those who have hurt us or wronged us. In those cases, we would really prefer justice to be done. We may think, “How could they just be forgiven? After all they’ve said and done to us?”

It’s in these moments that we must remember the cross. Jesus’ death on the cross was necessary because of your sin as well as theirs. Our sin is an offense to God’s holiness, yet God, in his grace, chose to make a way for all to be forgiven.

Today, when you’re tempted to judge and weigh sins against someone else, remember the cost of your salvation and the great grace granted to one so undeserving.

Prayer

God, thank you that your character never changes. Thank you that salvation is by your grace. I am not deserving, but you still welcome me in as your child through faith in Jesus. Help me to see others the way you see them. Amen.