Lessons from Jonah

Week four in our series takes to the book of Jonah. Jonah takes a different form than the other prophets. We find the focus less on Jonah and his message and more on personal Jonah's story. A story of a man running from God then, running to God, of running with God, and finally running ahead of God.

Jonah is a valuable book for us today. It demonstrates great value for three distinct groups of people. 

It has value to those of who preach the gospel. Jonah was instructed to preach to people he didn’t think worthy and chose to reject God’s will for him. He shirked his responsibility which God had placed on him. As ministers of the Gospel, we must always seek to preach without prejudice against the people sitting in the pews.

The Book of Jonah is also of value to ALL Christians! Jonah’s story is one which should remind us that a selfish, narrow-minded, sectarian spirit is not the spirit which God desires of us. We should rather be concerned for all, we should be concerned for the wicked hearted men and women of this world, whoever and wherever they are. 

Finally, the book of Jonah is of great value to SINNERS. Destruction is coming, it is inevitable. However, we find just as God had mercy on Nineveh when they heeded the message, so too will He have mercy on us when we heed the message of those he has sent to preach it. Salvation is available whenever and wherever true repentance and obedience is present.

May the example of Nineveh's repentance always remind us of the words of Christ:

“The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at Jonah's proclamation; and look--something greater than Jonah is here!” (Mt 12:41 HCSB)

Friends, the city of Nineveh repented at the preaching of Jonah; the question for us is, have we repented at the preaching of One (Jesus) Who is so much greater?