Daily Guide 17th December 2023 | Scripture Union Devotional
Do You Know That? Daily Guide Reading is published by Scripture Union Press & Books Ltd, an arm of Scripture Union Nigeria. Daily Guide is a true nondenominational, interdenominational Christian Bible engagement/reading aid – meditate on the Bible without denominational colorations. May the Lord bless you as you study!
Today’s Topic: Obeying the word of God produces change
Opening Prayer: Dear Lord, may the entrance of your word bring light and life to all I will do today.
SCRIPTURE: Jonah 3:1-10
Question(s) for Reflection
• Q 2: Is there any example for me to follow or not to follow?
Outline For Scripture Union Daily Guide 17 December 2023
Read 3:1-4 and compare the actions of Jonah there to his initial response to the command of God (see Jonah 1:3, also read Matthew 7:21-24). It is not the words we hear, read, or preach that profit us, but the words we obey and act upon. Read vs.5-9 and outline the effect of Jonah`s message on the people of Nineveh. V.5, “The people of Nineveh listened and trusted God.
They proclaimed a city wide fast and dressed in burlap to show their repentance. Everyone did it — rich and poor, famous and obscure, leaders and followers” (Message Bible).
Notice the result of such massive penitent response to the message of Jonah (v.10, see also Psalm 51:17). The people turned from their evil lives and God had a change of mind and did not do to them as He planned.
Practice/Word Application
Reflection: God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked but would rather they repent and live (Ezekiel 33:11). The door is open for any penitent person to turn back to God in dust and ashes.
• Any new insight or reinforcement of what you already know?
Closing Prayer
Since God is angry with the wicked everyday (Psalm 7:11) and covering our sins will not allow us to prosper (Proverbs 28:13), let us come in genuine repentance before God and ask for His forgiveness and mercies.
Offer a prayer of faith in line with Exodus 34:6
One Year Bible Reading Plan
1 John 3‐5; Psalms 137, 138.
NATIONAL PRAYER BULLETIN FOR 17TH DECEMBER 2023
PRAYER FOCUS: PERSONAL FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD
“As the hart (deer) pants after the water brooks, so pants my soul after thee, O God” Psalm 42:1
THANK GOD FOR:
►Who He is, and for what He does in our lives
►Making us His children, through the Gospel
PRAY FOR:
►The Lord will create a deep thirst for His word and His presence in our hearts.
►We will long for His Word and respond to this longing
►We might more steadily and sustainably be transformed by the Holy Spirit being made comfortable to the image of Christ Jesus; and
►The freshness of God’s presence might perpetually be upon our spirits and by it we affect our world for God continually.
