March 1, 2023

Jonah 3:1-10

 

I like this chunk of the bible because to me it speaks, not to God's power and Jonah's obedience both being wonderful and important parts of the bible but rather, to God's compassion and forgiveness. Ultimately, his love. The people of Nineveh were sinners. They were not 'good people'. I think it's easy to believe that you have God's grace when you're kind and reading your bible and others think well of you morally. It's effortless to believe that you have a spot in heaven. It is a very different thing to come to God on your knees begging for a salvation you know you don't deserve. 

But oddly enough the latter is better. No matter what life you've lead, you are not a 'good person'. This is a weird statement so stick with me. 'Good people' do not cheat, lie, gossip, or want what others have or are. They are not lazy or selfish or greedy. Nor are they prideful. 'Good people' is an oxymoron. Only Jesus could truly meet these expectations. Of course there are lovely, wonderful and kind people. But pure goodness and perfection is not attainable. We are flawed. God knows this. The common view of Nineveh was that it was awful. Enough for Jonah to disobey God just so he wouldn't have to go there. He was a preacher, he was a religious guy. So Nineveh would have had to be pretty bad for him to simply ignore God. But the people repented. Even the King 'took off his royal robes [and] covered himself with sackcloth'. All the people repented and prayed. God saw this and didn't destroy. 

This story serves as a reminder that no matter how far you've gone -no matter what mistakes you've made, no matter what people you've hurt- God has love for you. With repentance and a humble heart he will have compassion. He loves no matter the circumstances. Which is also a reminder that to be in his image we should too. God has the same love for the homeless man or criminal as he does for you. So what excuse do you have to not have compassion for them? Moral of Jonah: you are loved by God eternally, you have salvation if you repent and call out to him, and love the 'unlovables'.

- Charis Legg

 


 Burn the Ships, by for King and Country



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