Daily Lesson for October 16, 2014

Today's Daily Lesson comes from Jonah chapter 4 verses 1 and 2:

1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. 2 And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord . . . I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.”

Jonah couldn't stand it that the Ninevites were such a wicked and perverse people. And when they repented of their evil ways -- so remorseful that they even put their livestock in sackcloth and ashes -- well, Jonah couldn't stand that either.

There are some people that just have to have somebody to scorn and to condemn. They're always up in arms about somebody doing something. And "sorry" is just never good enough. They want everybody to get what they have coming.

When that doesn't happen then they say, "a bad precedence is being set," or we're "sending a signal that this kind of behavior is okay," or we're "not acting responsibly." When all is said and done, they end up looking like Jonah -- small-minded, petty, and mean-spirited.

The Bible says we are to "love mercy". That means that when we hate mercy something just ain't right.

Love mercy. Delight in it's giving. And for heaven's sake, don't cut off your nose just to spite your face.