For January 21st

“When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.”   Jonah 3:10

Repentance leads to a thankful heart.

Never-ending compassion and grace.

The story of Jonah is one of my favorites. A guy running away from God gets swallowed by a great fish, spit up on dry land, and then obeys to preach to this town of Ninevah. How great is God's compassion and grace that he spares the people of Ninevah because they repent of their evil. The striking part of this story, however, is in chapter 4 where Jonah becomes angry with God for sparing the Ninevites.

How often do we choose to be angry with God instead of thankful for his never-ending compassion and grace? The Ninevites turned away from their evil ways and God immediately fell back and decided not to bring disaster to that great city. How can you live a life of repentance that leads to thankfulness today? What are some things that are keeping you from noticing God's compassion and grace? Maybe it's anger like Jonah? Whatever it is, I encourage you to turn away from it and live a life of thankfulness because God's compassion and grace will never run dry!

Addie McCallie