Your Response Matters
- Bishop Keith Butler
- Jun 30
- 2 min read
And the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the second time, saying, Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee. So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey. And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown. So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. (Jonah 3:1-5)
When Jonah finally obeyed and preached in Nineveh, his message wasn’t comforting or casual; in Hebrew, it was a 5-word sentence: “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.” However, the people responded in faith. They believed in God, and it changed the scenario of what was supposed to happen. This teaches us something powerful - a word of wisdom can be conditional. That means when people respond in repentance, God’s mercy can rewrite the outcome.
We need to pay attention to what God says and understand the difference between conditional and absolute words. Many times, God warns us because He wants to spare us from trouble, not because He wants to punish us. God’s desire is always to show mercy. It seemed as though the prophet wasn’t accurate, because his prophecy didn’t come to pass, but that’s not the case. Jonah’s obedience fulfilled its purpose. The judgment didn’t fall because the people responded right away.
Revival broke out in the city because their hearts were open to God’s Word, not just because the prophet was mighty. Nineveh fasted, repented, and turned away from their wicked ways and toward God. When they responded to what God said, the outcome changed dramatically. Your response matters.
Practical Application
How are you responding to the Word preached? Your response to what God declares through a pastor, prophet, or teacher will determine your outcome. This can work in your favor when you make it a priority to be in a place where the Word is being taught. Take notes, engage fully, and take prompt steps of obedience.
