the Discipleship of jonah Together, getting to know our Father in heaven
Thoughts for Meditation from Pastor Tom
Please follow your heart and enjoy the Lord as you consider these meditations.
Pastor Tom
Sonship - The Discipleship of Jonah
“Righteous Father, Though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me.I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”John 17:25-26 NIV
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.Hebrews 13:8 NIV
As we have considered Jonah we have observed him hearing the Lord’s voice, choosing his response, sleeping in a storm, though ignoring the other's fears. When confronted he rises up to represent and yield to the Lord quite effectively. Not exactly focused discipleship though right where the Lord expects or places him.
We then observed him placed by the Lord where he had to deal with death, wrong thinking, obedience, commitment, God’s mercy, etc. He also noted the Lord hurled him into the depths, listened, answered, and brought his life up from the pit. This focused more sobering discipleship deepening Jonah’s relationship and commitment to the Lord.
With renewed commitment he obeys and the results are just as Jonah expected but contrary to Jonah’s desire. Despite all he has experienced, he maintains his judgment and disdain for the Ninevites. Though he has observed God’s love for all people and himself, he has not received and yielded to love. Discipleship is about oneness, sonship not just obedience as we look how the Lord continues with Jonah.
But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. He prayed to the LORD, “Isn’t this what I said, LORD, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish.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 4:1-3 NIV
But the LORD replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?”Jonah 4:4 NIV
Jonah clearly knows of God’s love and mercy but has not embraced it but has chosen to hold to his judgments fervently, even challenging the Lord’s judgment. Note the Lord’s reply “Is it right for you to be angry?” questioning his attitude. The Lord is not looking for just obedience but for humble oneness, sonship, the development of our hearts.
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you?To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.Micah 6:8 NIV
There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.Proverbs 14:12 NIV
The Lord is not finished or upset with Jonah but just continues his discipleship. Challenging his selfishness and attitude as he once again causes circumstances where his judgments are revealed.
Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city.Then the LORD God provided a leafy plant and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant. But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered.When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.” But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” “It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.” 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 4:5-11 NIV
Discipleship development is not a straight line experience but is individually experienced by the lead of the Lord to fit each man's soul. Man has many facets to his personality and definitions for life, therefore the Lord leads a man to yield where the experience will be most effective. We see the Lord patiently dealing with Jonah and as Paul said to the Corinthians God is saying to Jonah. We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us.As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.2 Corinthians 6:11-13 NIV
God calls freely to you as well, open your heart and receive his love afresh today. Enjoy and focus on your discipleship as you learn to live loved.
“Righteous Father, Though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me.I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”John 17:25-26 NIV
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.Hebrews 13:8 NIV
As we have considered Jonah we have observed him hearing the Lord’s voice, choosing his response, sleeping in a storm, though ignoring the other's fears. When confronted he rises up to represent and yield to the Lord quite effectively. Not exactly focused discipleship though right where the Lord expects or places him.
We then observed him placed by the Lord where he had to deal with death, wrong thinking, obedience, commitment, God’s mercy, etc. He also noted the Lord hurled him into the depths, listened, answered, and brought his life up from the pit. This focused more sobering discipleship deepening Jonah’s relationship and commitment to the Lord.
With renewed commitment he obeys and the results are just as Jonah expected but contrary to Jonah’s desire. Despite all he has experienced, he maintains his judgment and disdain for the Ninevites. Though he has observed God’s love for all people and himself, he has not received and yielded to love. Discipleship is about oneness, sonship not just obedience as we look how the Lord continues with Jonah.
But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. He prayed to the LORD, “Isn’t this what I said, LORD, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish.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 4:1-3 NIV
But the LORD replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?”Jonah 4:4 NIV
Jonah clearly knows of God’s love and mercy but has not embraced it but has chosen to hold to his judgments fervently, even challenging the Lord’s judgment. Note the Lord’s reply “Is it right for you to be angry?” questioning his attitude. The Lord is not looking for just obedience but for humble oneness, sonship, the development of our hearts.
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you?To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.Micah 6:8 NIV
There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.Proverbs 14:12 NIV
The Lord is not finished or upset with Jonah but just continues his discipleship. Challenging his selfishness and attitude as he once again causes circumstances where his judgments are revealed.
Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city.Then the LORD God provided a leafy plant and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant. But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered.When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.” But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” “It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.” 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 4:5-11 NIV
Discipleship development is not a straight line experience but is individually experienced by the lead of the Lord to fit each man's soul. Man has many facets to his personality and definitions for life, therefore the Lord leads a man to yield where the experience will be most effective. We see the Lord patiently dealing with Jonah and as Paul said to the Corinthians God is saying to Jonah. We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us.As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.2 Corinthians 6:11-13 NIV
God calls freely to you as well, open your heart and receive his love afresh today. Enjoy and focus on your discipleship as you learn to live loved.
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