July 29 — Sackcloth and Ashes. Jonah 3:6 “For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.”
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The phrase, sackcloth and ashes, was used as a sign of mourning in biblical times. Sitting in ashes took it a step further, and meant the mourning was more intense. When people used ashes in mourning, they’d toss them in the air over their heads. Sitting in them showed you were feeling the discomfort of your own sin. According to one commentary, ‘it was an emblem of deep humiliation’.
Jonah was the picture of defiant obedience. He did what God told him to do, but it wasn’t without a fight. While his message was spot on, his heart was far away. He cared more for himself than he did for those he’d been called to serve.
In our LDS reference today on repentance, some of the words McConkie used sounded biblical, but they seemed to be used in defiant conformity.
Sadly, the Church also believes all this is necessary to be a member of their church, when in fact, repentance has nothing to do with a church membership at all.
His experience was a good reminder for us all. How many times have we, (meaning I), obeyed the Lord from obligation, instead of compulsion?
Lastly beloved, God doesn’t judge sin on a sliding scale basis. Sin is sin, except for blaspheming the Holy Spirit. For that, there is no forgiveness.
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Mormon Doctrine, p. 447 “Repentance is essential to salvation; without it no accountable person can be saved in the kingdom of God…It is a prerequisite to baptism and hence to membership in the kingdom of God on earth. …
Repentance is easy or difficult of attainment by various people, depending upon their own attitude and conduct, and upon the seriousness of the sins they have committed…” — Bruce R. McConkie
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