ESOCS Devotional 31 October
TEXT: JONAH 4:1-11 KJV
MEMORY VERSE: “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 KJV
Our God is a God of compassion, who feels with us in our hurts and needs and takes appropriate steps to help us out of trouble and destruction. Number one evidence of this is in His message of hope to Adam and Eve (Gen.3:15), when they sinned: “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” Thus, the foundational plan of human salvation was established – centuries before the gift of Christ to mankind (John 3:16).
God’s expression of compassion was explicitly mentioned in His attitude to the oppressed Israelites in Egypt, whom He delivered through the Exodus (Ex. 3:7-8). The compassion of God is also richly expressed in His love for aliens and the poor, the widow, and orphans (Ex. 22:21-23; Lev. 25:35-43).
Read yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
Compassionately speaking, we could see the difference between God and man in the diversity of opinion between Jonah and God concerning the people of Nineveh (Jonah 4: 1-11). Jesus Christ highly expressed his compassion for the souls of men, when He saw their plight and helplessness (Matt. 9:36; Mark 6:34).
Child of God, learn to be compassionate, for “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy” (Matt. 5:7).
CHALLENGES
- Our God is not slack concerning His promises to us all. He is not willing that we should perish, but He is patiently waiting for our repentance. Does this suggest we should live as we please, because of God’s compassion and long-suffering? Discuss.
PRAYER POINT
- Lord Jesus, grant us the willingness to respond positively to your love and compassion towards us. Amen.
FURTHER READING: Job 1:1– 22; 2:1-13; Colossians 2:11-23; 3:1-13
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ESOCS Devotional 30 October
