We Have a Biblical Responsibility to Warn Others
By Rick Warren
“Jonah obeyed the LORD and went to Nineveh. The city was so big that it took three days just to walk through it. After walking for a day, Jonah warned the people, ‘Forty days from now, Nineveh will be destroyed!’” Jonah 3:3-4 (CEV)
When God sent Jonah to Nineveh, his mission was to warn the people about the severe consequences for their disobedience. God wanted them to know that his judgment was near, but that they still had a chance to repent and obey him.
God wanted to give the people of Nineveh a second chance.
But he had to give Jonah a second chance, too, because the prophet ended up fleeing from God’s mission and sitting in a big fish. Once God rescued him, the Bible says, “Jonah obeyed the Lord and went to Nineveh. The city was so big that it took three days just to walk through it. After walking for a day, Jonah warned the people, ‘Forty days from now, Nineveh will be destroyed!’” (Jonah 3:3-4 CEV).
A warning is cautionary advice about a danger, trap, or problem. And God sometimes brings people into our lives to warn us because we’re not listening to God’s warning.
More than 100 verses in the New Testament tell us to warn others. It’s part of our responsibility as followers of Jesus.
In Acts 20:31, Paul writes: “Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears” (NIV).
Notice that Paul says he warned the Ephesians “with tears.” Why did he cry as he warned them? Because he loved them!
God gives all believers the ministry of warning others. When you warn someone, it shows that you love God and love that person. For instance, if you knew a bridge was out and you saw someone driving toward it at 50 miles per hour, the loving thing to do would be to warn them.
If you love the people in your life, you will warn them of the consequences of their unwise actions or decisions—because a godly warning is an act of love.
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This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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