“Humility and love choose grace over judgment and mercy over anger.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – October 30, 2024
But the Lord hurled a powerful wind over the sea, causing a violent storm that threatened to break the ship apart. Jonah 1:4, NLT
Sin carries its own harmful consequences. Not every bad circumstance you experience results from sin, but every sin carries an unhealthy outcome. Jonah experienced the adverse outcomes of his disobedience to God. In the beginning, he runs away from the Lord and brings a violent storm from God for everyone around him to be sucked up into the swirl of Jonah’s sin. And when he finally stops running and turns back to the Lord, he goes to Nineveh and preaches repentance and forgiveness. When the people repent, he quickly forgets his own past need for grace. He becomes angry and denounces Nineveh as unworthy of forgiveness. Jonah’s sins were running from God in fear, turning toward God, and self-righteously judging others in anger.
Running away from God in fear is something we can all relate to at times. But avoiding Him comes with consequences that we might not realize right away. Wisdom avoids these three consequences. We lose our peace. When we run from God, we often try to escape something difficult, but we feel more anxious and restless instead of finding peace. God’s presence is where peace is found, and when we distance ourselves, peace slips away. We miss out on His guidance. God’s plans are good, and when we try to handle life on our own, we end up lost, uncertain of which way to go. Running from God means we’re also running from the wisdom and direction He wants to give us. We drift further from His love. God’s love is always present, but when we’re running, we stop experiencing its fullness. Fear creates distance, but His love is what draws us back and restores us. The Lord’s love is not waiting to condemn us—He’s waiting to welcome us back with open arms. Open your heart to His open arms and be truly loved.
When we fall into the trap of self-righteously and angrily judging others, we might feel justified in the moment, but this has consequences that can damage us and those around us. However, humility and love seek to avoid the following three consequences. We damage relationships. Judging others harshly creates division. Instead of drawing people closer, it pushes them away. People don’t feel safe or loved around judgment; they feel condemned, which strains relationships that could have been filled with grace. We become blind to our own faults. When we focus on what’s wrong with others, we lose sight of our own need for God’s grace. Jesus reminds us in Matthew 7:3 to take the plank out of our own eye before pointing out the speck in someone else’s. We misrepresent God’s heart. God calls us to love, not to sit in judgment. When we judge angrily, we miss the opportunity to show His mercy and kindness, which leads others to repentance (Romans 2:4). Humility and love choose grace over judgment and mercy over anger.
When you see the storm of sin on the horizon that is the result of your disobedience or another’s, seek the shelter of the Lord’s love and forgiveness. “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.‘” Psalm 91:1-2. Divine shelters offer rest, refuge, protection, peace, and assurance. Trust the One who calms storms with a spoken word. Then, love and obey.
Prayer
Lord, help me to avoid the storm of sin by walking in humility and love. Guard my heart from pride and judgment, and fill me with Your grace. Teach me to rely on Your strength, seeking Your wisdom in every step, so I may live a life that honors You. Amen.
Application
By God’s grace, replace your fear with love and your anger with mercy.
Related Reading
Psalm 100:2; Deuteronomy 28:47; Colossians 3:17; Philippians 2:14-15
Worship Resource
Ben Fuller: Mercy
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