July 26, 2026

<p>My heart naturally loves grace as a shield but demands justice as a sword.</p><p><br></p><p>The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time.     Jonah 3:1</p><p><br></p><p>Yet forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown.     Jonah 3:4b</p><p><br></p><p>The people of Nineveh believed God.     Jonah 3:5</p><p><br></p><p>Who knows? God may turn and relent.      Jonah 3:9b</p><p><br></p><p>But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry.     Jonah 4:1</p><p><br></p><p>I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.       Jonah 4:2b (Exodus 34:6)</p><p><br></p><p>A right theology can easily mask a ruthless and unmerciful heart.</p><p><br></p><p>9 But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” “It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.”10 But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. 11 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 4:9-11</p><p><br></p><p>Who is the Nineveh in your life right now?</p><p><br></p><p>Should I not pity Nineveh?        Jonah 4:11c</p><p><br></p><p>To experience the fullness of God&#39;s grace I must release my grip on human fairness.</p><p> </p><p><u><strong>Weekly Challenge</strong></u>:  </p><p>• Identify Your Nineveh</p><p>• Pray for Rain</p>