Photo courtesy of ChristianPhotos.net
As I’ve mentioned before, I’m doing Shannon Mullins‘ online Bible study again this year. It’s called Living Power Online Bible Study, and I loved it so much last year, there was no doubt I was going to do it again this year. It’s a chronological study of the entire Bible, with daily chronological reading and then a 10-15 minute video where Shannon shares additional information, explanation, and insight. Since starting this study 20 months ago, I’ve learned more about the Bible than I had learned in my previous 30 years as a Christian! I’m serious.
I encourage you to take a look at Shannon’s study and consider joining in. You can start at any time. And don’t worry about getting behind. I stay behind much of the time, but the videos and readings are still there, so I just keep plugging away. I can’t imagine not doing it!
All that to say, this summer we’re in the OT and recently the lesson was on the book of Jonah. I know many of us have heard the story of Jonah from the time we were little kids in Sunday School. We know he was running from God because he didn’t want the people of Nineveh to receive His grace, so he didn’t want to share God’s warning with them.
What? Jonah–a prophet–didn’t want to share the proclamation of God to repent and be saved from destruction?
Through the years I’ve maligned Jonah. It was easy to look down my nose at him, insulted by his pride and disregard for those who needed to hear. I mean, how could he NOT want to share the message of grace, mercy, and love with the lost?
But I realize now I had no right to point my finger at Jonah because I’m just as bad myself.
I knew that Nineveh was evil–all the more reason to share God’s love with them–but I never realized the depth of their wickedness. Nineveh was called the City of Blood, and for good reason. As enemies of Israel, they tortured the people by ripping off their lips, skinning them and placing their skins on the city wall, hanging their heads in the king’s garden, gouging their eyes out, and more. They had no compassion, no heart. Jonah was scared of them, yes, but even more, he didn’t want them to be saved. He wanted them to pay for the horrible things they’ve done. He wanted them to suffer.
Ever been there? I have.
While pointing an accusing finger at Jonah, I now realize I’m no better.
As I look through the current events of my lifetime, I realize I’m just as guilty. I wanted Osama bin Laden killed. I’m glad Hitler died. I want child molesters and murderers to suffer for what they’ve done.
But I don’t want to suffer myself. After all, I’m not like them.
And yet, in the eyes of God, I have no more right to salvation than they do.
In Chapter 3 of Jonah, we see that after Jonah finally went to them and proclaimed God’s warning that they would be destroyed if they didn’t turn from their wicked ways, they listened. The king led the people of Nineveh to fast and pray, and they confessed and turned from their evil ways.
God relented, and Jonah was not happy. “I knew You’d forgive them,” he said self-righteously (my paraphrase).
Today I’m thankful God doesn’t look at me and see my sin, my evil ways, my mistreatment of others. I’m thankful God relented when it came to me and my wickedness. When God looks at us–Jew and Gentile–we can be clean, forgiven, and set free through the blood of Jesus Christ.
Even though none of us deserve it. Not Nineveh. Not Jonah. Not me.
This righteousness is given through faith inJesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for 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. Romans 3:22-24 NIV
I pray God’s blessing on the work of your hands and your hearts,
Vonda
(Photo courtesy of ChristianPhotos.net)
