Something's Fishy

Then the sailors picked Jonah up and threw him into the raging sea, and the storm stopped at once!  The sailors were awestruck by the Lord’s great power, and they offered him a sacrifice and vowed to serve him. Jonah 1:15-16 (NLT)

God is so funny. Here is Jonah, a prophet, called to speak for God. God gives him an assignment and Jonah decides he does not want this one. So he goes in the opposite direction. He literally walked away. His defiance is really pretty remarkable when you think about it. But God does not let him go. God follows him….chases him really.

Jonah boards a ship and trying to forget what he’s done, trying to feel better, he takes a nap. While we may be surprised, we each have our ways of ignoring what God is telling us to do. Napping, social media, TV, food, shopping, working….the list is very long. Maybe because he couldn’t look at Facebook Jonah decides to nap.

In the meantime, God decides he is going to get Jonah’s attention and he sends a huge storm. Funny thing is Jonah sleeps right through it. The storm however, is not lost on the other people on the ship. They start praying, rowing, throwing cargo overboard and questioning. They start asking what they had done to cause this. Everyone but Jonah who is still asleep!

They wake him up and ask why he isn’t praying. Jonah isn’t praying because he knows the answer already. We do that too don’t we? God makes a request. We don’t do it for some reason. We understand that we’ve done something wrong and so we stop praying. Humans.

Jonah begins to realize this is futile so he tells them to throw him over and the problem will go away. They tried to fix it themselves but couldn’t so they threw Jonah into the abyss. Storm stopped. The ocean became calm and their lives were spared.

The crew bowed and worshiped. They offered sacrifices to this new God they had just experienced and they vowed to serve him.

And here is what I learned from this story. God wants us to obey but even when we don’t, even when we mess up and go our own way, His glory will be revealed. He will still do what he wants to do. And what does He want to do more than anything? Show His children (ALL OF US) who He is. He wants to get our attention. He wants to draw us into a close relationship with Him and He will use any means to do it. Including our mistakes.

Interestingly, God throughout this story continued to lead Jonah, work with Jonah and teach Jonah. Even though Jonah was being stubborn and really kind of belligerent, God did not give up on him. It’s good to know that He doesn’t give up on us either. Personally, I think I’ll try to obey because God has a million ways to bring His plan about. I’d prefer not to end up in the belly of a fish!

Investing in the Mess

Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. Ephesians 1:4-8: (NLT)

Ever wonder why he did it? Why did God create us at all? It was clear that he knew we were going to be trouble. Even before he made the world, even before we were created he decided on the plan to save us. He knew we were going to sin. He knew we were going to be a mess. Yet, he did it anyway.

Why? It would have been so much easier to move on to another plan. Less mess, less suffering, less pain. Jesus wouldn’t have had to die. We wouldn’t be hurting each other all the time. Why?

Do you think it’s because God, who is love, saw all that and said “They are worth it.”? That love, the love we cannot comprehend, was the driving force behind investing in the messiness. The love that is so big, it had a plan from way before we were a twinkle in his eye. The plan was to love us no matter what.

I can’t fully comprehend that love. I can think it in my head but not totally understand it in my heart. Actually, if I am honest even my head has a hard time with it some days. But here is what I know. I am called to imitate it. As a recipient of this boundless love, I am called to imitate it in my world every single day. I am called to love in the mess; to ease pain and suffering, to share hope.

There is only one way to do that. I have to reflect on the gift I have been given by his grace and kindness. Reflecting on that slowly changes me so that I begin to do the things I cannot comprehend.

Grace

A minute in God’s Word will change your life. Take a moment to read the text below and then answer the questions at the bottom of the post.

But because God was so gracious, so very generous, here I am. And I’m not about to let his grace go to waste. Haven’t I worked hard trying to do more than any of the others? Even then, my work didn’t amount to all that much. It was God giving me the work to do, God giving me the energy to do it. 1 Corinthians 15:10 (MSG)

What are some of God’s character traits described in this text?
What did Paul do with what he was given?
What will you do with the gifts you are given? What will you do with this extravagant grace?
No matter how hard you work, who does everything depend on?

Don't Discount God

Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.” Luke 1:18 (NLT)

The angel came and told Zechariah that God has heard his prayers and his wife was going to have a son. Zechariah’s first response was basically to say “Look, we are old. How do I know what you said will happen will actually happen?”

Later in Luke 1, an angel appeared to Mary. He told her that she would become pregnant even though she was not married. Mary, like Zechariah, was also confused. Her question though was a little different. Mary pointed out that she was a virgin and asked how she could be pregnant.

So why was Zechariah left unable to speak until his son was born and Mary was encouraged?

The questions of both were a little different. Zechariah questioned God and what he said would come to pass. Mary’s question was more sorting through in her mind what was necessary to become pregnant knowing she had not participated in that.

God doesn’t mind our questions. He says that we should come to him, reason with him and he will share with us. What I think he minded with Zechariah is that Zechariah doubted what he could do. Zechariah was questioning God’s ability to make Elizabeth get pregnant even in her old age. He was allowing humanness to trump God’s ability. I guess, in a way it was a lack of faith.

I wish I could sit here and say that I follow more in Mary’s footsteps than Zechariah’s but I am not sure I think that is true. God promises a lot of things in his Word and still I doubt. I want to be more like Mary and respond with “I am your servant. May everything you said come true” and trust in those promises.

Zechariah was unable to speak for a time as a reminder of who God was. And Praise The Lord! God didn’t give up on Zechariah and he won’t give up on us either!

When Not If

But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:32 (NLT)

Jesus was on his journey to the cross where he would make a public forever statement about forgiveness. And in this conversation with Peter, Peter was so sure of himself. He stood there and spoke words about facing death for Jesus and being in it all the way. He didn't know his heart would betray him. But Jesus did.

Isn't it the same with us? We betray Jesus every time we choose a path other than the one that he wants for us. Every time we say "No, Lord. That's too hard." or "This is too uncomfortable." or "I want to do it my way." We may not say it exactly like that but, whenever we do what we want instead of what Jesus wants, we are acting like Peter. And like Peter, we may not know ourselves as well as we think we do, but Jesus knows us.

Why did Jesus make this statement to Peter? Wouldn't the cross have been enough of a You are forgiven statement for Peter and for us? Somehow, I don't think so. I think we would look at that and say "But I denied him. That doesn't apply to me." So Jesus made sure that Peter knew that after all was said and done, there was still a plan for him. He said "When you have repented and turned to me again." When not if. Jesus let him know that there was still a plan for his life. And when he said that to Peter, he said that to us.

I don't know about you but I find great comfort in this story. I have denied Jesus with my decisions and I have made some terrible mistakes in my life. But Jesus was praying for me.  He was saying "When you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers." He is saying the same to you. 

No matter what you have done, no matter where you have been, grace is greater than all that. You are forgiven.

A Minute In It - Which Behavior Is Yours?

A minute in Gods' word will change your life.  Reach the passage below and answer the questions after the post.

Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd.
"Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”
They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.
When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”
“No, Lord,” she said.
And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” John 8:1-11 (NLT)

In this story, are you the one offering grace or the one holding the stones?

Now Is The Time

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.  Romans 8:1 (NLT)

Someone recently mentioned that they didn't know if God could use them because their past was full of "colorful" things. I've had this thought. How can God use someone who has made so many embarrassing mistakes? How can I represent a pure and Holy God when my past has been anything but.

We often forget that God's plan for our lives has nothing to do with our merit.  Let's face it, if it did he couldn't use any of us. It's about Jesus. Always about Jesus and the gift of grace we are given when we accept him as our Lord and Savior.

Jesus said, "It is finished." He didn't say "It will be finished when you get your act together." He knew we couldn't. He knew we were hopeless and helpless. Yet, he did what he did anyway.

Today's text says "So now there is no condemnation." Now. Not when you get it together. Not when you make up for your past. Not when you are sure some of the ugly won't show up again....NOW.

Let's accept this grace that we have been given. Let's believe in it and cherish it. And then, we should let it change us so we can share it with others.

Crazy Love

Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. 15 Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. Hebrews 12:14-15 (NLT)

When I first came across this text, I applied it to discipleship. You know, no matter where you are, who you meet, no matter what you are doing, look after each other. Offer God's Grace. OK. I can do that. Then this weekend, I attended a family wedding. 

It's been a really long time since this many of us has gotten together and still some of us were unable to attend. We were missing a couple of my nieces, my daughter and some cousins. As we all began to arrive, we greeted each other with hugs and joy.  It was really nice.

As I watched my family, these verses popped into my mind. Our family has history. In reality, after some of it we might not want to be in the same room with each other. But what family doesn't? I don't know of any family that doesn't have something they look back on that causes sadness or anger. 

And then I started thinking about each of us individually. We all have history. There is someone in our life that has caused us pain AND there is someone that we ourselves have caused pain. None of us are exempt from sin. None of us have escaped hurting someone or being hurt. 

In verse 14 it says "Work at living in peace." Living in peace doesn't just happen. It's something we work at. It is something we choose. And in verse 15 looking after each other is something we must choose as well. Can we look at the history we carry and write someone off? Sure. But that is not what God wants. He wants us to look at the mess and share the Grace he has so overwhelmingly offered to us.

He wants us to do what he does. He looks at us, looks at our mess and he chooses us. He offers us love over and over and over again so that none of us fails to receive his grace. That is the only example we need to follow.

As the music started and my family filed onto the dance floor to be crazy, act silly and laugh together, I was thankful for family and I was especially thankful for God's grace. This is one woman who is a recipient of God's grace...over and over again. For this I will be forever grateful.