Jonah was sent to a place he didn’t want to go. God wanted him to preach to a nation that was an enemy of his own. After some creative “convincing,” Jonah commenced his very own missionary journey. For about three days, he traversed a sixty mile city, repeating a simple eight word sermon: “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!"
How powerful were these eight words? Jonah 3:5-9 says, “So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them. Then word came to the king of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes. And he caused it to be proclaimed and published throughout Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, ‘Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat, or drink water. But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish?’”
The Lord responded to their repentance in sparing them from the destruction that was in store. Paul assures us, “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation…” (2 Cor. 7:10).
“Why didn’t I say anything to that guy,” ever gone through your head after missing an opportunity to share the gospel with someone. Unfortunately, many people think that sharing the gospel is the equivalent of dropping a bible on someone’s head. But, in matters like this, a little can go a long way. Some people initially just need to be exposed to a social setting with Christians, some are ready for a private bible study, and some just need an invite to the regular assembly to hear the Word preached.
Why not try these powerful eight words: “Would you like to come to bible study?” Godly sorrow may not follow very far behind… leading quickly to repentance and salvation. Trust where God sends YOU! Plant that seed and water it… let Him bring the increase (1 Cor. 3:7).
-Cary Gillis D. Min.

May 31, 2020

“Why didn’t I say anything to that guy,” ...