Today’s Scripture: Jonah 1-4
The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: “God, I thank you that I am not like other men–robbers, evildoers, adulterers–or even like this tax collector.” – Luke 18:11
When God told Jonah to go to the great and wicked city of Nineveh and preach to the people, Jonah headed in the opposite direction. Why did he do that? Jonah 4:2 says, “That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.”
It seems that if Jonah had believed God was going to be harsh and unmerciful, he would have been delighted to go to Nineveh and preach. Jonah wanted this bloodthirsty nation to get what he thought it deserved. But God’s mercy extended far beyond the borders of Israel, and Jonah knew it!
I was in a church once where all the people had a similar heritage and shared the same theological persuasion. They had a very comfortable fellowship, a good preacher, and everything was great. Then their pastor heard Dawson Trotman speak on the need to reach out to the lost. He began urging people to invite nonChristians into their homes and into the church to win them to Christ, but they were too wrapped up with “enjoying the Lord” inside their own congregation.
Christian, are you afraid God wants to use you in the lives of people you think deserve judgment? Afraid God wants you to show kindness where you would rather show resentment and spite? As we have received forgiveness in Christ, let us become His messengers of mercy to others.
Prayer
Lord, keep me from being self-centered. Amen.
To Ponder
Our resistance to being equipped to witness grieves the Holy Spirit.
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