Bible Reading: Psalm 149:1- 9
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” – Proverbs 28:13(KJV)
Repentance is a pre-condition for Salvation. You cannot be saved if you do not repent from your previous sins. There are several ways of showing repentance but one of the effective ways is by fasting. In Jonah 3:4-10, the bible says when Jonah spoke to the people of Nineveh that they had fallen short of God’s glory and that God was going to destroy Nineveh in forty days, the king and the people believed God and proclaimed a fast for both human beings and animals of the land, covered themselves with sackcloth to show they were remorseful and prayed to God.
In Jonah 3:8(KJV) the king of the land decreed: “But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands.” The result was seen in Jonah 3:10(KJV), “And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.”
From the actions of Nineveh, we recognize that one can avert the wrath of God by:
1. Showing remorse for the sin committed by fasting; denying yourself of food and drink for a period of time.
2. Turn away from the sin.
3. Cry unto the Lord asking for mercy.
Whatever, you have done against humanity and God, it is time to turn to God and ask for mercy. The first step as we see in Nineveh’s case is to recognize the sin, be remorseful and be willing and ready to forsake the sin. That’s why the bible says in Proverbs 28:13 KJV “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Our father is a merciful God and he is ready to show mercy to whoever seeks his face.
What have you done that you are concerned God will not forgive you? He forgave Saul and turned his name to Paul though he persecuted God’s children with passion. But after the mercy of God, he wrote the largest number of books in the New Testament of the bible!
Prayer: Father, have mercy on me and forgive me my sins in Jesus name.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero