January 11

Jonah Four: the Challenge of Attitude

The Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry about this?”

Jonah 4:4 (NLT)


When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask? … let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.

Romans 12:1-2 (NLT)


Jonah was challenged in so many ways. He was challenged to go where he didn’t want to go and to do what he didn’t want to do—preach to Nineveh. But his greatest challenge was to think the thoughts he didn’t want to think, to come off his spiritual high horse and see that God has a love for all people—even the vilest and cruelest sinners in that day, the Assyrians.

Jonah Four is his real wake up call, and I believe Jonah learns the lesson, because he writes it all down for us and … he lets God have the final word, “Shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a great city?”
Attitude is everything and God makes His point. “See life my way,” He seems to say. “Be more like me.”

We have His example. We have the lessons of Christ. The first step in following is to change our thinking, to be transformed by letting Him change the way we think. It may seem an insurmountable challenge to some, but as the apostle said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” He changed Jonah’s attitude, and He can change ours too!


Father God, help me to be more like You. Make Your thoughts, my thoughts, and Your ways, my ways. Amen.