Jonah 3:1-10 (NLT) Big Idea God’s kindness & mercy extend to Jonah’s enemies, the Ninevites. Ultimately, God’s invitation is for Jonah to love his enemy as God does. God is merciful enough to generate both & . Do-overs for his . Jonah 3:1–3 (NLT) Then the Lord spoke to Jonah a second time: 2 “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh, and deliver the message I have given you.” 3 This time Jonah obeyed the Lord’s command and went to Nineveh, a city so large that it took three days to see it all. Jonah 3:4 (NLT) On the day Jonah entered the city, he shouted to the crowds: “Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed!” Turn-overs for his . Jonah 3:5–9 (NLT) 5 The people of Nineveh believed God’s message, and from the greatest to the least, they declared a fast and put on burlap to show their sorrow. 6 When the king of Nineveh heard what Jonah was saying, he stepped down from his throne and took off his royal robes. He dressed himself in burlap and sat on a heap of ashes. 7 Then the king and his nobles sent this decree throughout the city: “No one, not even the animals from your herds and flocks, may eat or drink anything at all. 8 People and animals alike must wear garments of mourning, and everyone must pray earnestly to God. They must turn from their evil ways and stop all their violence. 9 Who can tell? Perhaps even yet God will change his mind and hold back his fierce anger from destroying us.” God’s compassionate mercy compels him to relent instead of . Jonah 3:10 (NLT) When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened. Definition Mercy: God’s attribute & action of withholding punishment that is deserved & instead extending compassionate grace towards repentant & needy. Romans 2:4 (NLT) Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? 2 Corinthians 7:10 (NLT) For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death. Romans 2:5 (NLT) “But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.” Romans 2:8 (NLT) “But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness.” Jesus is our true & better Jonah: Jonah’s message leads to temporary salvation of Nineveh; Jesus’ message leads to eternal salvation of all believers. Jonah’s mission was to one city; Jesus’ mission is to entire human race. What now? Get up & grab your do-over. Pray for & expect to see more of God’s turnovers.