God Blesses Whom HE Will

Good Morning!! I thought I knew well the Book of Jonah until I studied it again with a book from the bible book store. Jonah was called to preach to Nineveh, flees God's call, spends three days in the belly of a great fish, and then finally goes to Nineveh. Upon hearing Jonah preach, the Ninevites believe God and repent; and God spares them destruction. That part of the story I remembered, but I overlooked or did not fully grasp, Jonah's response. Nineveh was an enemy of Israel, and Jonah was angry with God for wanting to spare the city and its people.

The LORD said to Jonah, "Have you any right to be angry?"—Jonah 4:4 (NIV)

How often have we been like Jonah? We pray for and even expect God to show mercy and compassion to us, our families, our friends, and the c-workers we like. However, when God shows mercy to, or seems to be blessing others, particularly those we may perceive as enemies, that is often difficult for us to accept. We resist the knowledge that each of us has failed to live up to Christ's model of perfection. One of the lessons for us in Jonah's story is to be thankful that we have "a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love."

God's mercy is available to all who seek it, whether We like it or not.
Where would you be if your blessings were base on whether or not others liked you or thought it was O.K.?

 

Dear Lord, help us to see that our forgiveness is tied to our ability to forgive,...and help us to extend to others the mercy and love you have shown to us. Amen.

 

 "Following Christ does not mean we think less of ourselves,...it simply means we're think of ourselves, less."