Can I Hold On or Let Go?

Jonah 4:1-11

Jonah was greatly displeased
and became angry that God did not carry out the evil
he threatened against Nineveh.
He prayed, "I beseech you, LORD,
is not this what I said while I was still in my own country?
This is why I fled at first to Tarshish.
I knew that you are a gracious and merciful God,
slow to anger, rich in clemency, loath to punish.
And now, LORD, please take my life from me;
for it is better for me to die than to live."
But the LORD asked, "Have you reason to be angry?"

Jonah then left the city for a place to the east of it,
where he built himself a hut and waited under it in the shade,
to see what would happen to the city.
And when the LORD God provided a gourd plant
that grew up over Jonah's head,
giving shade that relieved him of any discomfort,
Jonah was very happy over the plant.
But the next morning at dawn
God sent a worm that attacked the plant,
so that it withered.
And when the sun arose, God sent a burning east wind;
and the sun beat upon Jonah's head till he became faint.
Then Jonah asked for death, saying,
"I would be better off dead than alive."

But God said to Jonah,
"Have you reason to be angry over the plant?"
"I have reason to be angry," Jonah answered, "angry enough to die."
Then the LORD said,
"You are concerned over the plant which cost you no labor
and which you did not raise;
it came up in one night and in one night it perished.
And should I not be concerned over Nineveh, the great city,
in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons
who cannot distinguish their right hand from their left,
not to mention the many cattle?"

You ever have one of those moments like Jonah just had here? I have I chuckle to at myself now, but man my biscuits have gotten burnt to see a sinner find redemption and forgiveness with no apparent penance. Then I have to pause cause I hear an alarming whisper in the back of my head saying, "Now Michael remind me, how long did you live the life of a deplorable sinner? And how much did you really have to pay for all of your sins against others let alone God?" I see this all to often in other "Christians" as well. Newer (and sometimes old) Christians get such a fervor for following God's laws that they get over excited and condemn someone(s) when they see others not doing as God wills. If you have been the receiver of such condemnation I apologize deeply for my fellow Christian brothers and sisters. I am truly and dearly sorry. Please know this...

YOU BELONG IN GOD'S HOUSE! PLEASE COME HOME!

Just because we're "Christian" don't mean we will not make mistakes and and sin ourselves. Here Jonah was so big on the fire and brimstone that he preached in Nineveh that he was disappointed when God saw the peoples repentance and decided to give them another chance. After all God loves all of us and is willing to give anyone 2nd, 3rd or millionth chance if one repents with a contrite heart. 

Luke 11:1-4

Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished,
one of his disciples said to him,
"Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples."
He said to them, "When you pray, say:

Father, hallowed be your name,
your Kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread
and forgive us our sins
for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us,
and do not subject us to the final test."

Notice something here, God was praying. Yes Jesus, God come to earth, was praying. Even God prays, on a regular basis, so its a pretty good notion that you, me and everyone else should be praying on a regular basis as well. The line in this prayer that always gets me the most is, "... and forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us."

That's a tall order, but God forgives us as we forgive, food for thought. 

God,

I love you. You have forgiven me for so much and have made me whole time and time again. Please this day, help me to not be like Jonah, but to love like you. Help me to make this world a better place. Help me to love unconditionally. Help me to accept all in my path. Help me to share your love and to bring others to your Church and help them feel loved and welcome.

In Jesus Christ's name I pray,
Amen