SEPTEMBER 24 READING…JONAH 2-4…PSALM 116 & PHILIPPIANS 3
Jonah is a study of our selfish human nature. Some have called him the reluctant prophet…others the vengeful prophet. He had no desire for the people of Nineveh to repent. From a human standpoint he had every right to feel this way. They were a cruel people, who had treated the Jonah’s people in the worst of ways. Jonah knew God, and as God’s prophet he knew that God would forgive the people of Nineveh if they repented. Reluctantly Jonah went to Nineveh, the people heeded his warning of impending judgment, repented, and God forgave them. This made Jonah angry, and he went away sulking, instead of rejoicing at God’s great mercy. Is there someone you hate so much that you don’t want to see them in heaven? Would their salvation make you resentful of God’s grace? What if you are that person that someone else doesn’t want to see in heaven? When we have trouble forgiving others, we need to remember what we were like when God forgave us. The Psalmist rejoices in God’s salvation. Paul tells us to take our eyes off of self, and live only for Christ…for it is not about us, nor are we in the center of the universe…it’s about the Lord. So we are to press on, share Christ, as we know that our citizenship is in heaven. What a good and gracious God we have!
Please share your thoughts.
TOMORROW’S READING…HABAKKUK 1-3 & PHILIPPIANS 4