Blog Post
Posted by Dion Todd August 30th, 2024 2,247 Views 33 Comments
God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way. God relented of the disaster which he said he would do to them, and he didn't do it. But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. Jonah 3:10–4:1 WEB.
It was early morning during a hot summer in the South, and we were digging up a septic tank. After we located and shoveled the dirt off the lid, I grabbed a heavy bar off the truck, and we pried it open enough to get a hose inside the tank. There is nothing quite like the smell that came out of it. Needless to say, it was tough to keep my breakfast down.
For a period of my life, that's what I did to pay the bills. I was a septic tank technician that pumped out septic tanks and grease traps with a vacuum truck. When you get your first whiff of steaming decomposing sewage, it will not be a pleasant aroma, but I can tell you that it will be a lasting one. We would often service five or six tanks a day. Many times when we arrived, they were backed up and overflowing. It was a dirty job.
One thing I noticed early on was this: All the septic tanks smelled alike. Whether it was a church, a country club, a restaurant, a mansion on a hill, or a trailer park, when you opened up that septic tank, they all had the exact same smell coming out of them. They all reeked.
The prophet Jonah didn't want to go to Nineveh and preach, but God persuaded him to go anyway. Jonah brought a message of wrath and destruction, but the entire city humbled itself after hearing it. They repented of their wicked ways and turned to God. He showed them mercy and spared them from the wrath that was coming. But Jonah became very angry because Nineveh did not get what he felt they deserved.
When God looked down from heaven, they all smelled the same to Him. At that moment, His prophet Jonah was behaving worse than those who were in Nineveh. Sin is bad, and everyone has it, including Jonah. There is no need to point at someone else's sin while God is nearly heaving from the smell of yours. Only the blood of Jesus removes this stench from us.
It took me a long time to figure out that God did not dislike the same people that I did. And that the people who have wronged us will get the same forgiveness we do if they ask Him for it. All of their past deeds will be wiped out if they repent, just like ours will. For example, before, during, and after a divorce, God loves both parties involved.
It is not that people are good, but because God is good, and He wishes no one would be lost. God loves you, those that dislike you, and those who vote differently than you. Thankfully, none who repent will get what they actually deserve. Humanity has a lot in common, and one thing is that we all need His forgiveness. Thank God it is there for the asking and completely free.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, please forgive me for judging others and help me to clean up my own life. Thank You for having mercy on us. Please give me the grace to show that mercy to others. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!
Note: Good morning! We have a couple of new features that may interest you. First, if you look at the end of each devotional, there should be a gold button called “Favorite”. If you click that, it will add it to a list of your favorite devotionals, which can be found below the Devotionals entry on the main menu, titled “Favorite Devotionals”. This was per a request from a reader - thank you for the suggestion! The second change is we now have a Bible Search, which you can find under Bible Tools on the main menu! You can search by keyword or Bible passage there. This feature will be the backbone of future updates such as “clickable” Bible verses and the return of the interactive Bible quizzes. We’d appreciate if you could check them out and let us know if you have any comments or suggestions - God bless!
Site update #586: I completed a large update to the Audio Library on the left sidebar. There is now a live service archive of all past services, full-length in case you miss a service and want to catch up, as well as all of our original music. You can download the .mp3 files directly to your device now to listen when you don't have internet. I also added a pop-out player so you can listen without remaining on the page. Give it a try and let me know if you have any problems. 😀
Post from Wesley Paulus
11 months ago
Amen!
Post from David Krull
11 months ago
Prayer request. Came across a seriously injured motorcyclist yesterday. Several broken bones and bad head, face injury.. Father be with this man. Save him in every way. His body and his soul. Bring healing and total recovery in Jesus Christ Name. Amen
Comment from Lynn Brown
11 months ago
Joining in prayer for a complete healing for this man. Father, give him healing, comfort and peace during this time. In the name of Jesus, Amen.🙏
Comment from Liesel aka lisa Wardle
11 months ago
Amen and Amen, joining prayers for this seriously injured person, Lord, please bring healing to his body, and healing to his soul so that he may be saved, and please meet all of his needs according to Your goodness and mercy, in the name of Jesus Christ we ask and pray, AMEN!!! 🙏
Comment from Susan Petho
11 months ago
Praying for this seriously injured motorcyclists, that his body will be totally healed and his soul will be saved.
Comment from Dan Remley
11 months ago
I pray the Lord brings healing and comfort to this man. In Jesus name I pray Amen ❤️
Post from Tracy Carroll
11 months ago
Oh wow! I love the ideas of the 2 new features! There have been so many devotionals that I tried to save in my emails but eventually got lost so this is great! Of course the Bible Search is really gonna come in handy but which translation will it be in or can I discover that myself? lol
Post from Mari Kaufmann
11 months ago
Amen.
Post from Liesel aka lisa Wardle
11 months ago
Amen and Amen and Amen!!! "Dear Heavenly Father, please forgive me for judging others and help me to clean up my own life! Thank You for having mercy on us! Please give me the grace to show mercy to others, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray, AMEN!!" Thinking of Matthew 7:1-5 "Do not judge or you too will be judged . . ." This strikes fear in my heart especially when I'm so often critical and judgmental on others, things that so quickly slip of my tongue, Lord help me and please forgive me, in the name of Jesus I ask and pray, Amen!!!
Post from Sherri Mc graw
11 months ago
No one should look down on anyone, unless they are helping them up. We're all sinners and our graves are all the same size.
Post from Susan Petho
11 months ago
Amen!
Post from Sylvia Todd
11 months ago
Good morning, everyone, happy Friday 😀🌻!
Comment from Lynn Brown
11 months ago
Happy Friday RHM!😊
Post from Yvette York
11 months ago
Heavenly Father Please Forgive Me For All Of My Sins And Shortcomings Especially When It Comes To Others Please Help Me Have Patience When It Comes To Other’s Like You Do With Me AMEN Good Morning Everyone 😀
Comment from Sylvia Todd
11 months ago
Good morning, Yvette, God bless 😀!
Post from Dan Remley
11 months ago
God please give me the strength to not judge others. It's election time and I think this is a critical election. I have a very strong opinion about it and have at times been disrespectful to others that don't think the way I do. This is a perfect devotion today It is a reminder of how I have acted and how I should act towards others. Thank you. I need to be better. I am a sinner and i need to concentrate on be a better man myself. In Jesus name I pray Amen ❤️
Post from Sherry Mccosh
11 months ago
Heavenly Father, please forgive me for judging others and help me to clean up my own life. Thank You for having mercy on us. Please give me the grace to show that mercy to others. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen Excellent devotion today, thank you very much for always writing this for this group. I look forward to these each day to start my morning. God bless you and Silvia for all that you are doing for Gods people!!
Post from Marisa Jackson
11 months ago
Amen 🙏❤️🙏❤️🙏❤️🙏🙏!!
Post from David Krull
11 months ago
Amen. Thank you Jesus for forgiving my sins. Create in me a clean heart and re-new a steadfast spirit within me. I speak Jesus over my life, my health and faith..
Post from Scott Riegelmann
11 months ago
Amen
Post from Bella Colliander
11 months ago
Father, thank you for having mercy on us. I want my life to be pleasing to You 🕊️
Post from Bill Fair
11 months ago
Amen
Post from Debi Burton
11 months ago
Heavenly Father, please forgive me for judging others and help me to clean up my own life. Thank You for having mercy on us. Please give me the grace to show that mercy to others. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen! ❤️🤟🏻
Post from Theresa Bright
11 months ago
This is good. Thank you Pastor 🙏🏻😊
Post from Lynn Brown
11 months ago
Thank You Father for forgiving me! Help me to always forgive others, Amen.
Post from Roseanne Braverman
11 months ago
Great new features ❤️
Post from Celeste Strenn
11 months ago
Amen❣️🤗
Post from Celeste Strenn
11 months ago
Amen❣️
Post from Deborah Blackshear
11 months ago
Thanks for the update and sharing, very helpful information
Post from Wanda Pennington
11 months ago
Heavenly Father, please forgive me for judging others and help me to clean up my own life. Thank You for having mercy on us. Please give me the grace to show that mercy to others. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen
Post from Candy Laventure
11 months ago
Amen!
Post from Brenda F
11 months ago
Amen
Post from Kevin J. Eck
11 months ago
Father, Thank you for your forgiveness, your Love and Mercy! In the name of Jesus, Amen!
Post from Gloria Nebarez
11 months ago
Amen
Post from Schalk de Beer
11 months ago
Yes, amen Lord.
Post from Dana Rozell
11 months ago
Amen!
Comment from Cathy Webb
3 hours ago
What a blessing, Pastor Dion! The audio library page is easy to navigate and I truly appreciate the pop-out player, as I have many tabs open during my computer sessions and this allows me to keep the music flowing. Well done! 😊🎶
Comment from Gloria Nebarez
10 hours ago
Thank you
Comment from Tyler Velau
3 days ago
Thank you for your continuing work on the site and your efforts to bring the truth of the Gospels to people around the world via the internet. Your hard work and dilligence is appreciated.
Comment from Liesel aka lisa Wardle
3 days ago
Thank you so much, Pastor Dion, for all that you do, it sounds to me like non-stop "24-7"! God bless you and Sylvia abundantly, above and beyond! 🙏🤗
Comment from Nell Neathery
3 days ago
sounds great. I know that will be useful for me...need to write that down. Hope the Todd family have a blessed Saturday and Sunday. I do believe God gave us those 2 special days for His sake and our sake! Work hard or volunteer (myself) hard through the week. We get our rewards here on Earth and rewards in Heaven.
Comment from Lynn Brown
4 days ago
That sounds amazing Pastor Dion, thank you!!!