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In Chapter 1 Jonah runs but he can't hide from God. The storm finds him out and he is cast into the sea, by his own choice, and because he believes this is the only way to save his shipmates who he feels do not deserve his fate.
In Chapter 2 Jonah's prayer, felt deeply then cried out in the body of the whale and written down later, speaks of Jonah's initial fear at the result of his own wish to be put in the water and God's plan to save him. In the midst of these verses is the grain of wisdom gained from the entire "Ninevah Adventure" thus far by small time preacher Jonah.
Verse 8, "Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs."
If we assume that Jonah is speaking of himself in this prayerful proverb we must define what he considered his "worthless idols." An idol is anything which we focus on which distracts us from God. Jews, Christians, and Muslims have learned to their great loss that even "holy" artwork or buildings can become just such idols. Consider what the Jews gave up in AD 70 and finally in 134 to save their "idolatrous" need to worship in a specific temple in a specific place. Consider the Muslim's willingness to die for the Mosque of Omar that now sits upon the site of the ruined Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. And finally consider some Christian's willingness to give their lives to God so long as they think God wants them to use it to support their home church, but going beyond their own faith communities walls to give service seems a waste at time.
So how do we discover the grace which Jonah learned to receive in the midst of his storm? Some would argue that no Jew or Muslim could possibly find grace since they choose to disbelieve Jesus. However we Methodists, and all of the many millions more who follow in John Wesley's theological footprints without being called by that name, believe in a thing he called "Prevenient Grace." A grace which God offers to all before they even know Him as Lord and Savior and Best Friend. A grace which is God's way of opening the door to His Kingdom for you before you even arrive at the porch. A grace which says all humans are His kids and He calls out to each of us, throughout our lifetimes and indeed till the absolutely final moment of possible reception, this message of "Come all you who are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
However, even prevenient grace will not force us to respond to Christ's call to "Love God first, and all others second."
I'll never forget the woman, still listed as a member of Hope Church when Mona and I arrived in Douglassville 10 years ago, who allowed me to visit her but told me flat out that she had not attended Hope or it's predecessor, Searle's UMC in Pottstown for many years and would not come out now. She said she had spent many of her young years serving in the kitchen at Searle's and came to discover that others took her for granted and left her with much more work than she felt they took on since she was such a willing worker. Upon this discovery she immediately stopped attending the church and would never return.
Who was the loser in such an arrangement? I think it was her. The work of the church will get done, if God wants it done: even the work of the kitchen. And if He does not want it done it doesn't need to get done. Those who she felt maligned her never had the chance to learn from their mistakes, and went on thinking, I'm sure, that she left ,as so many do, for some unknown reason.
She, on the other hand, spent her life in obvious anger, almost 15 years old by the time I heard of it, and missed all the joys of fellowship in a church that could party well. Life, dear brothers and sisters, is just way too short.
Jonah learned it, I hope you know it...don't miss the grace by clinging to the idols.
Do you have any idols you like to cling to? No? Just checking!
Be blessed this week, and for God's sake, and definitely your own, BE A BLESSING TO OTHERS.
Pastor Ken
Pastor Ken sends a Weekly Newsletter that includes his devotional message for the week and an update of the current happenings at Hope Church. If you would like to receive his newsletter, just click below and he'll add your email address to his list of subscribers.