The late Queen Elizabeth II was a highly respected leader, known for her graciousness, integrity and her dedication to her people. She also had a personal faith in Jesus Christ.

Australian author and broadcaster Sheridan Voysey reflected on this following the Queen’s death, saying that “she looked up to another Crown, bent her knee to a Greater Sovereign.” Despite the status and privilege Queen Elizabeth had, she knew that there was a higher authority to Whom she was answerable.

This week’s reading from Jonah 3 mentions another monarch who came to have a similar attitude. When the prophet Jonah called the people of Nineveh to turn from their wickedness, the king responded with genuine repentance. He asked everyone in the city to give up their evil and violent ways, and to show remorse and humility. God saw that the Ninevites were sorry for their sins, and forgave them.

These stories remind us that no matter what our position is in society, we all have something in common. From the wealthiest and most influential figures to the beggars on the street, we are all sinners in need of God’s grace. God alone has the right to judge each one of us. Yet thankfully He is also willing to pardon us. God has lovingly extended this forgiveness to us through His Son, Jesus Christ. Romans 3:23-25 says “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood – to be received by faith.” Just as our sin is something we all have in common, so forgiveness is also available to everyone, through faith in Christ.

So let us have the same humble and honest attitude as the Ninevite king and Queen Elizabeth II had. May our hearts bow down to God the holy and loving Father, and now the One He has revealed as King and Judge – Jesus Christ, the Lord.