https://esv.literalword.com/?q=jonah+1%3B+john+16
Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Wednesday, 22 November 2023:
Note: Here is a short video overview of Jonah: https://youtu.be/dLIabZc0O4c
Jonah 1:1-3 — Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah…. But Jonah rose to flee… from the presence of the Lord.
What has God called you through His word to do or to be which you have ignored, refused, or put off (delayed obedience is disobedience)? Have you convinced yourself that you can escape the conviction of the Holy Spirit or that the Holy God who loves you more than you love yourself will allow you to continue in denial, compromise, or distance from Him? How long will a jealous God accept your idols (what you place ahead of Him)? What will it take for God to get your attention? Will you, like Jonah, have to be taken to utter ruin before you “remember” that God is the LORD? Will it take a Jonah experience to finally say, “Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love. But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the Lord!”?
God has called us to Christlikeness and to spread the Gospel to all people. When we flee from our responsibility to the Great Commandment and Great Commission, we are fleeing from the presences of God, which is of course actually impossible. Jonah resented the thought of those he despised potentially receiving God’s mercy and grace through repentance and faith, so he sought to withhold God’s word from them. Though we might not actively avoid sharing the Gospel with difficult people, we might passively deny them by merely choosing not to confront them, thereby demonstrating our lack of love and concern. Hate and resentment keep us from fulfilling our life’s purpose of bringing people to Jesus, and it also separates us from God.
Jonah 1:8, 9 – “What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?” And he said to them, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.”
Jonah didn’t identify himself by “occupation” but rather by “profession” (statement of belief) or “vocation” (calling) – “I fear the Lord.” What do you say when people ask what you do? Are you known mostly as an ambassador for Christ or an employee?
Ironically, despite Jonah’s proclamation, He wasn’t demonstrating a fear of the Lord and sought to flee from the “God… who made the sea” on a boat. Meanwhile, the pagan sailors demonstrated more reverence for the Lord than Jonah did — “Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish…. Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows ” (Jonah 1:6, 16) While Jonah was seeking to run from God, the sailors were seeking God’s presence, mercy, protection, and salvation. There are many places in the Bible where God’s people act less respectful of God or receptive to God than the unbelievers. Unfortunately, the same can be said today. (See 1 Timothy 5:8; Luke 19:30-37; Genesis 20:9-11)
Jonah 2:9 – But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the Lord!
Jonah, while having sinned against God and after having been consumed by a whale because of his sin, still prayed with hope and thanksgiving. He understood that under any conditions, God could save him and that God does not reject the truly repentant. He also recognized that truly worshipping God requires doing what He commands. God brought Jonah to a place of surrender, repentance, gratefulness, obedience, and praise. What does it take for God to get you to submit to Him joyfully and to praise Him?
John 16:1-4 — I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.
Jesus warned His followers they would be persecuted by people from within the church in the name of God because, though these persecutors were very religious, they “have not known the Father, nor me.” Jesus warned His followers so, under the pressure of the worldly church, His true followers would not ‘fall away.’ We must be very careful not to allow unfaithful but powerful elements within the contemporary church compromise our fidelity to Jesus. If you are truly obeying God’s word, you might find that your greatest critics are members of the church. Jesus warned His followers they would be persecuted in the name of religion and righteousness like He was persecuted by religious leaders and governing officials. However, we must be careful not to allow the harsh, callous culture turn us into harsh, callous people too. We must be faithful to our message and ministry of reconciliation.
“Whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God.” Many Christians have hurt other Christians and unbelievers while thinking they were serving God in the process. Even if you are right on a spiritual matter, you can be terribly, sinfully wrong in how you address the matter with others if your motivation is wrong or your approach is inconsiderate or unloving. In other words, you can handle God’s word hurtfully and foolishly – “Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.” (Proverbs 26:9) If your actions don’t feel gracious, reconciliatory, and loving, they probably aren’t, and you are likely outside of God’s will. When you are operating outside of the command of love, you are no longer gathering with Jesus but rather scattering – “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” (Matthew 12:30)
- Galatians 6:1 — Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
- 2 Timothy 2:24-26 — And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
- 2 Timothy 4:2 — Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
- Leviticus 19:17 — “You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him.
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 22 November 2023: Put off no longer what God has convicted you to do. Speak the truth in love, and if others respond unlovingly, respond back to them lovingly. Remember who you represent – “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 