Jonah 3:1-10
The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: "Set out for the great city of Nineveh,
and announce to it the message that I will tell you."
So Jonah made ready and went to Nineveh,
according to the LORD's bidding.
Now Nineveh was an enormously large city;
it took three days to go through it.
Jonah began his journey through the city,
and had gone but a single day's walk announcing,
"Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed,"
when the people of Nineveh believed God;
they proclaimed a fast and all of them, great and small,
put on sackcloth.
When the news reached the king of Nineveh,
he rose from his throne, laid aside his robe,
covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in the ashes.
Then he had this proclaimed throughout Nineveh,
by decree of the king and his nobles:
"Neither man nor beast, neither cattle nor sheep,
shall taste anything;
they shall not eat, nor shall they drink water.
Man and beast shall be covered with sackcloth
and call loudly to God;
every man shall turn from his evil way
and from the violence he has in hand.
Who knows, God may relent and forgive,
and withhold his blazing wrath,
so that we shall not perish."
When God saw by their actions how they turned from their evil way,
he repented of the evil that he had threatened to do to them;
he did not carry it out.
I will not lie, I am a bit envious when I read this passage. Here we read that Jonah walked the streets and and the city repented. Here in the modern world we have countless radio and TV programs begging the public to turn towards God and it seems to fall on deaf ears. I know that for each person the reason for their "deafness" is unique, but basically it seems to always be about pleasure.
"Well, yeah I know I should go to church on Sunday, but I gotta work. I mean just a few more hundred dollars and I can have that vacation and then I can make time for God."
Or...
"Well I know that I should really go home, but she is so pretty and we are having such a great time. I'm probably going to marry her anyway right? So what's the big deal if I spend the night? I love her after all..."
Or...
"It's just not fair, I mean John never goes to church and he has EVERYTHING! He's got a great car, an awesome house AND A KNOCKOUT WIFE! I deserve all that. I should have what he has. Mom can go to hell. This God crap is just that... CRAP!
I often wonder how much better a world this would be to live in if we would take the time to love God with all our mind, body, soul and strength and loved, truly loved, our neighbors as ourselves.
Luke 10:38-42
Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him.
She had a sister named Mary
who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak.
Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said,
"Lord, do you not care
that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving?
Tell her to help me."
The Lord said to her in reply,
"Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.
There is need of only one thing.
Mary has chosen the better part
and it will not be taken from her."
This sounds more like the world I live in. I mean I say it with all compassion, but here we have poor Martha toiling away and Mary is laying around hanging out with Jesus. I can tell you I have spent far to many of my years chasing things that I thought were important like Martha instead of stopping and spending time in God's glory.
How many times have I driven to work, worrying about planning my day perfectly instead of appreciating the sunrise right outside my car window?
How many times have I tried to get some extra work that was "so important" done around the house instead of taking some time to listen to my children that were begging for my attention?
How many times have I held back from putting that extra 10$ in the collection plate or giving to that homeless person in need, because I just had to have the "such in such" that I saw on TV last week?
All of these... far too many times.
God,
I can't believe that you have patience for me still. I have spent more than my fair share chances messing up, but there you are, still waiting for me. I love you so much God. Thank you for all that you do for me. Please God help me to stop. Help me to stop and recognize all that you do and are for me. Help me to recognize that everything I have and everything that I am is all fore a gift from you. Help me to love like you do. Help me to share your son's story and life and teachings so that many more can learn and bask in your love.
In Jesus Christ's name I pray,
Amen
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