One-a-Day Monday, 3/2/15

number 1He prayed to the Lord, “O Lord, is this not what I said…?  I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.  Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.”  (Jonah 2:10)

He knew the words.

He just didn’t live them.

The words Jonah uses here should be familiar—they’re used over and over again in the Scriptures to describe God’s character.  These were probably some of the first verses he memorized in Sunday School.

Yes, I know it wasn’t Sunday School at that time—just go with me.

I’ll bet that, over the years, Jonah had recited these words with joy, with hope, in supplication, applying them to himself and to his people.  He rejoiced over God’s forgiveness—for himself and his people.

But…the Ninevites?  The oppressors of his people?  Deniers of the Most High God?  The wicked ick of the world?  It was unacceptable to Jonah that God could apply the same mercy, the same compassion, the same love to them that he so often gave to Israel.

So, he knew the heart of God.

He just didn’t share it.

And you, Beloved?  And I?

Look, I’m sure you see where I’m going here, and I know you’ve got to get on with your Monday.  Just keep this in mind, as you look around your world today:

All those verses you’ve memorized…do they apply to all those people out there?

Do you share the heart of God for these people?

Do you even want to?

Something to chew on, Beloved.

One-a-Day Friday, 2/27/15

number 1But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry (Jonah 4:1).

I know it’s wrong

immature

unspiritual

but…I love this.

I’m so glad we have Jonah.  He’s a real man, not a cutout character from a Sunday School felt board.  He feels angry because he knows that the Ninevites don’t deserve this mercy.  They deserve a serious smack down, and Jonah was looking forward to a front row seat.

Been there, Jonah.

Felt that.

Every time I’m in heavy traffic.

You know, there’s a way out of a Jonah mood.  It’s kind of dangerous, though.  Look at those Ninevites, and pray that God would allow you to see these people as he sees them.  God will grant your request, if you really mean it.

And you will lose your capacity to hate them, no matter how badly they drive.

Like I said, though, it’s dangerous.  You may begin to see a lot of things as God sees them, and that’ll change you.

Are you up for that, Beloved?

Happy Friday.

One-a-Day Thursday, 2/26/15

number 1When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened (Jonah 5:10).

They didn’t deserve it.

Mercy, I mean.

A little sackcloth and a few skipped meals hardly make up for generations of wickedness.

And yet, that is the very nature of mercy.  God was willing to see beyond their sin, to look at hearts that, however briefly, recognized their evil and turned to him.

He sent Jonah because he wanted to forgive the Ninevites.  He was looking for a reason.  I don’t know why he would want to forgive them.

But then, I don’t know why he would want to forgive me.

And forgiving me cost him ever so much more than forgiving the city of Nineveh.

You know what I mean, Beloved?

Yes, you do.

Happy Thursday.

One-a-Day Wednesday, 2/25/15

number 1The Ninevites believed God. (Jonah 3:5)

Believing God—that’s always a good idea.

Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. (Gen 15:6)

Anyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. (1 John 5:1)

For God so loved the world that he gave his Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

There’s no better place to start—or end—than simply believing God.

So…do you, Beloved?

Believe him, I mean.  His Word says so much about who he is, and his attitude towards sin, and how much he loves us, and our relationship with him, and our eternity—do you live as though all of that were true?

I do

mostly

sometimes

but sometimes I forget.  Sometimes I believe what the world says.  That seldom works out well for me.

There was a whole lot riding on Nineveh’s choice to believe God.

There’s a whole lot riding on your choice today.

So…choose.

Happy Wednesday, Beloved.

One-a-Day Tuesday, 2/24/15

number 1Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time…Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh (Jonah 3:1-2).

A God of second chances—that’s who we serve.

After all the grief that Jonah caused, after the arrogance he showed, after the downright in-your-face disobedience he displayed toward the Lord of the Universe, God gave him a second chance.  And not just forgiveness—a second chance to serve, to be His instrument on Earth.  God could have ditched Jonah and called someone else, but he didn’t.  Because Jonah was every bit as important to God as the people he was sent to warn.

Frankly, I probably would have left him in the fish.

Call it reason #3,874 to be glad I am not God.

OK Beloved, so maybe you’ve messed up along the way.  You’ve been disobedient, you’ve had to face God’s discipline.

That does not mean that you are through.  Your mission still awaits you.  Your Lord still calls.

There’s the road, kid.

Start walking.

One-a-Day Monday, 2/23/15

number 1And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land (Jonah 2:10).

Lovely image, don’t you think?

I wonder why we don’t hear more worship songs built around this verse.

It isn’t always pretty, the way God works.  It isn’t always glamorous. Sometimes it will leave you humbled, disheveled, and smelling of fish innards.

And yet…he’s still working.

May I make a suggestion, Beloved?  As you embark on your Monday, be on the lookout for the ways in which God is providing for you and protecting you.  It may not be apparent at first glance.  That minor illness may be God allowing you to rest.  That undesired overtime may be his way of paying the rent.  Be assured of this: if you’re his, then he’s working in, through, and for you.

No matter what it looks like.

Wipe the fish goo out of your eyes and look around.  He’s doing amazing things.

Because you are his Beloved.

Happy Monday.

One-a-Day Friday, 2/20/15

number 1“Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.” (Jonah 2:8)

What do you cling to, Beloved?

Who do you trust?

God, of course!

And…?

Yeah, it’s the “And” that gets me, too.

Look, I know you don’t worship stuffed animals or pray to little porcelain figurines.

Please

But that doesn’t mean you don’t have idols.  And those idols, those things that you trust instead of trusting God, get in the way.  You see, you have to choose who you’re going to trust.  The Lord of the Universe is not big on sharing power.  If you insist that you can make it on your own, he’s likely to let you.

And you’ve been down that road before.

Your strength, your money, your intelligence, your looks, your ability to make a really great chicken sandwich—enjoy them.  Use them wisely, and glorify God with them.

But don’t cling to them.

Don’t forfeit grace.

Happy Friday, Beloved.

One-a-Day Thursday, 2/19/15

number 1“When my life was ebbing away I remembered you, Lord, and my prayer rose to you…”  (Jonah 2:7)

Imagine it.

You’ve tread water for as long as you could, but your strength is now gone.

The water closes over your head.

You look up and see the light that you can no longer reach. It grows dimmer as you drop down and down, away from light and air and warmth and life.

Eventually…utter darkness.

But as you drift down, your prayers go up.

And he hears you.  And he sends a fish to swallow you, which is a really weird part of the metaphor, but it represents the whole rescue thing.

Sometimes he’s the only hope you have, and that’s when you remember:

He’s enough.

And then some.

And then some more.

Happy Thursday, Beloved.

One-a-Day Wednesday, 2/18/15

number 1He said, “In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me.  From the depths of the grave I called for help, and you listened to my cry.”  (Jonah 2:2)

Do you remember, Beloved?

Do you remember when you called out to him?

Do you remember the pit—so dark, so deep?

The despair was palpable.

The sorrow tangible.

But he answered.

He listened.

Do you remember?

Let this be a day of remembrance, Beloved.  Drink deep of the memory.  Let it roll around in your heart.  Taste its fullness.  Then let it sink deep into your spirit, to refresh and sustain you.

Now you can look Wednesday square in the eye.

One-a-Day Tuesday, 2/17/15

number 1From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God (Jonah 2:1).

We all need to take a break from the world from time to time, sort of get away from the busyness and reconnect with God.

You may go to the mountains

or to the desert

or just to a quiet room with a closed door

or…you know…a fish.

Sometimes we refuse to take that break, and God forces a rest upon us.

He might send an illness

or a layoff

or a flight cancellation

or…you know…

Jonah didn’t ask for the fish, as he didn’t ask for the storm or the mission to Nineveh.  But he recognizes the fish for the provision it is, and he uses the time to reconnect with God and get his priorities straight.

At least for the moment.

And what about you, Beloved?

Are you taking time to fellowship with the One who loves you?  When was the last time you got away from the Crazy—if only for a few minutes—to let God restore, re-center, reconnect you?  Because if you don’t, he will.

Because you are his Beloved.

Don’t make him get the fish.