January 08
Jonah One: Challenges from God
The Lord gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: "Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh! Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are."
Jonah 1:1-2 (NLT)
When most people hear Jonah’s name they think of a whale or a big fish, but I think of something else. I think of the great ways God wants to challenge us—to get us out of our comfort zones. To get us active in the real work of the Kingdom—sharing His heart's desire to reach every last one of us with kindness, mercy and love.
Here, in the opening lines of Jonah, the reluctant prophet is challenged with what he must think are impossible demands: go to the biggest city of your deadliest enemies—the vilest, cruelest people on earth—and tell them they are wrong. Tell them, God is not happy and will judge them NOW.
We know the story. Jonah runs. Bad move, we say. But ... don’t we run too? God speaks to us too, but we don’t act. We don’t want to. No. We don’t want to act, to go, or to do. But, so many times, God uses us anyway.
I think of my own life and how God has challenged me. I think of the one-year, unaccompanied, remote tour to Saudi Arabia and driving the streets of Riyadh, prior to and after 9/11. Something I really didn't look forward to. I think also of my son Ryan, born with Apert Syndrome and enduring dozens of operations … something I wasn't exactly prepared for.
But, I can look back now and say, I wouldn’t trade these experiences (Ryan or Arabia) for the world. Maybe you can understand. This is where I saw the hand of God. His hand … on me!
Father, continue to challenge, stretch, and use us for Your good, for Your glory. Amen.
Jonah One: Challenges from God
The Lord gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: "Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh! Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are."
Jonah 1:1-2 (NLT)
When most people hear Jonah’s name they think of a whale or a big fish, but I think of something else. I think of the great ways God wants to challenge us—to get us out of our comfort zones. To get us active in the real work of the Kingdom—sharing His heart's desire to reach every last one of us with kindness, mercy and love.
Here, in the opening lines of Jonah, the reluctant prophet is challenged with what he must think are impossible demands: go to the biggest city of your deadliest enemies—the vilest, cruelest people on earth—and tell them they are wrong. Tell them, God is not happy and will judge them NOW.
We know the story. Jonah runs. Bad move, we say. But ... don’t we run too? God speaks to us too, but we don’t act. We don’t want to. No. We don’t want to act, to go, or to do. But, so many times, God uses us anyway.
I think of my own life and how God has challenged me. I think of the one-year, unaccompanied, remote tour to Saudi Arabia and driving the streets of Riyadh, prior to and after 9/11. Something I really didn't look forward to. I think also of my son Ryan, born with Apert Syndrome and enduring dozens of operations … something I wasn't exactly prepared for.
But, I can look back now and say, I wouldn’t trade these experiences (Ryan or Arabia) for the world. Maybe you can understand. This is where I saw the hand of God. His hand … on me!
Father, continue to challenge, stretch, and use us for Your good, for Your glory. Amen.