9/23. Jonah
I wrote a long response to this week’s reading, but Faithlife’s tempermental system ost it when a hair on my little finger touched something on the screen. So here is the abbreviated version. Like Jonah we may not all answer God’s call due to insecurity or fear that we may not be up to the task, or perhaps a distaste for the job itself. Nonetheless, commissioned we are to take the message of repentance and salvation to a pagan world. In a way, it is easier for us. We don’t need to get on a ship and travel into pagan lands hostile to the gospel. As the Bible prophesies, we have become more prideful and carnal, less Godly and less desirous of becoming so. We study and work and play and even attend church with non-believers. Although we don’t have to risk danger sea travel to reach distant lands, we are commissioned as was Jonah preach repentance and salvation to the lost and leave the results to God. (I presume we differ from Jonah in that we would be delighted if our efforts bore fruit through the Holy Spirit.) We none of us got belched out of the belly of the beast (the world) onto the safe shore of salvation for nothing. Though He delights in our personal salvation, the Lord, the Bible makes clear, has more in mind.
- Like Jonah how many times have we told God no when we have been asked to do something. Asked to Pray with a stranger, give words of wisdom to a struggling person, witness about Jesus to a friend or even a stranger. Like Jonah we have been swallowed by the beast (this world and Satan) but unlike Jonah we don’t just get spit out when we get where we are going, we have to find Jesus and accept the gift of salvation and then share that gift, when we do that we will find ourselves on that beach in paradise.
- I look forward to your being belched back onto Baseline so we can fellowship again. Stop trying to run!