In that day,” declares the Lord,"I will gather the lame; I will assemble the exiles and those I have brought to grief.

Micah 4

In that day,” declares the Lord,"I will gather the lame; I will assemble the exiles and those I have brought to grief. v6

We are all lame, stricken with some thorn in our side (2 Corinthians 12:7-10) - for none of us are free of sin and pain (Romans 3:23).  We are all exiled and separated from God due to our sin.  

Yet through Jesus we have reconciliation and restoration - freedom from the sting of sin and death. 

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

God has already gathered us to Him and He will do so once more in Heaven - for all of this we should be grateful!

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God who knows everything about me yet choose to submit His life for me so that I may be saved from the sting of sin and death!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such an act of grace and love - by a long shot! I continue to sin in my life and I need You daily to help protect myself from shame and from further sin.  Please forgive me for my worry.  Help me turn from my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?”

Jonah 4

But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?” v10-11

Arrogance, selfishness and righteousness are at the core of Jonah's anger at God's compassion.  God's response to Jonah is difficult for me today as I see much of myself in Jonah.  I often feel like I know what is best, I am critical of those who disagree with my view and I get angry or grumble/complain about those who criticize me.  

God is sovereign.  God is good.  And I must remember that His thoughts and ways are not my own and that I must come around to His way of thinking not vice versa.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. Isaiah 55:8

I must become present to what God IS doing in my life NOT what He is NOT doing in my life.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God, God of all creation, the First and the Last and You are my Lord and Savior, having loved and chosen me while I was still sinning and even before I was born.  Thank You Jesus for adopting me as You son but please forgive me for my arrogance, selfishness, and righteousness.  Help me overcome and turn from such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But the Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?”

Jonah 4

But the Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?” v4

I MUST remember that God is in control.  

He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  Colossians 1:17

If I can remember that God is in control - I can have a better appreciation of how God has me where He wants me. If I don't like the circumstances and I am angry or I complain it is because I am angry at God.

In the desert, Moses reminds the Israelites that when they grumbled about no food or water, they were really complaining about God.

Who are we? You are not grumbling against us, but against the Lord. Exodus 16:8

God does not want us to grumble.  He wants us to be at peace so that others see Him in us.

Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky. Philippians 2:14-15

..instead we are to:
 

...give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

 



My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God full of love and compassion for me...and yet I still am often angry and I complain.  Thank You for Your patience for me but please forgive me!  Help me overcome and turn from my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me not grumble.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them. But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord.

Jonah 2

Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them. But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord. v8-9

What's interesting is that while Jonah is desperate and cries out to God, it does not appear certain that he truly had a contrite heart and that he both acknowledged his sin (Jonah 1:12 establishes this) and explicitly sought God forgiveness for this sin.  You can acknowledge God's sovereignty and at the same time not fully surrender to such sovereignty...this to me appears to be the issue with Jonah...and of course with many of us, myself included.

We need to heed Jesus words from the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:

Blessed are the poor in spirit,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
    for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
    for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
    for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Matthew 5:3-10

If we are who Jesus talks about in the Beatitudes, we surrender ourselves to Him in the way that Jesus seeks (Exodus 20, Matthew 22:37-40).

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are without a doubt King of Kings, Lord of Lords and sovereign over all for all times.  I can do no good things without You and all good and perfect gifts come from You.  You are in and before all things, You created all things through You and for You and You hold all things together.  You bless me well beyond what I deserve.  Thank You Jesus but I desperately need You to cleanse my sins and to help me turn from such sins of harsh words towards others.  Help me turn towards You and love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind.  Help me love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself strength and wisdom.  Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, Lord, have done as you pleased.

Jonah 1

Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, Lord, have done as you pleased. v13

Nothing can stop God's plan from coming to fruition.  God is in control and when He sets a plan in motion - nothing can stop it.

For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  Colossians 1:16-17

Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21

See also this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed a great God who is before and in all things, You created all things and all things are for You.  I am part of Your creation created for Your glory and purposes.  You have done many miracles in my life - yet I often seek my own will and desires for my life and not Yours.  Thank You for the many blessings but please forgive me Jesus.  Help me overcome my sins and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects from chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, the church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.

Jonah 1

But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord. v3

Running away from the Lord is never a good idea - it's not like You can hide from God.

You, God, know my folly; my guilt is not hidden from you. Psalm 69:5

 

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:12-13

 

For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. Luke 8:17

 

Yet what Jonah does is far from uncommon.  We all have something we want to hide (at least from others) and there are times when we feel led to do something but at the same time resist God because we may feel that the task assigned to us by God is not something we want to do for whatever reason.

 

We may not feel equipped.  We may also feel that those to whom we are being sent do not deserve our time.  We may feel overqualified.  There are other reasons I am sure.  But we must obey God if for nothing else because He is sovereign and again it's not like He won't know we are disobeying Him and it's not like we're going to be able to stop Him from achieving His plan.

 

God will equip us...He loves us, He knows what is good for us and He has a plan.

 

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Ephesians 4:11-13 

 

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. Isaiah 55:8

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what a great God You are!  I know You love me, You equip me, encourage me...and so much more.  You rescued me and continue to save me from the sting of sin and death.  Thank You Jesus - I am not worth such love and blessings.  I continue to worry...too much.  Please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal her of her cancer and from the side effects from chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, the church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down,” declares the Lord.

Obadiah 1

Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down,” declares the Lord. v4

As a follow up to yesterday's post, I am reminded once again about the dangers of arrogance and pride.  I am guilty of these sins and need these reminders.

Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. Romans 12:3

 

Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18

 

Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight. Isaiah 5:21

 

 Instead, we should focus on denying ourselves and being humble:

 

Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud. Proverbs 16:19

"Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. Luke 9:23, Matthew 16:24

 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” Matthew 20:16

"Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.” Luke 13:30

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God, creator of all things, in and before all things and in control!  Apart from You I can do nothing!  I am thankful for how You have protected me, encouraged me, blessed me, etc.  I am humbled that You would do all of this for me because I am broken!  I continue to have issues with arrogance and pride - please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal her of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.