Rescue the Perishing

Even though Jonah is an Old Testament prophet, as Christians we can use his life as an example for our own. Jonah was full of religious pride feeling that the grace and salvation

of God should only be for his people, the Jews. However, God had a plan for the Gentiles that lives in Nineveh and Jonah wasn’t happy about it.

We can learn three things from Jonah that sometimes cause us as Christians to keep the message of Jesus Christ and his work on the Cross for our sins to ourselves.

First, Jonah didn’t have a Godly love for those in Nineveh that were perishing.  Jonah thought God’s forgiveness was only for the Jews and he didn’t care that the people of Nineveh were going to be judged if he didn’t share God’s message. Do we look at people and think that God’s forgiveness isn’t for them because of how they are currently living or things they did in their past?

Second, Jonah wasn’t right with God himself. He ran from God as far and as fast as he could not to share God’s love. Do we find ourselves feeling unworthy of sharing the Gospel because we ourselves aren’t in fellowship with God?  Are we ashamed of what those we witness to might say about our own lives or be surprised we call ourselves Christians?

Finally, Jonah felt he had to have his own message to bring to the people of Nineveh when actually God just told him to “go” and he would provide the message when he obeyed. Do we feel inadequate because we don’t know what message to share or we don’t think we know enough about God’s Word?  It’s not about our message, it’s about God’s message!  The Holy Spirit will give us the words we need to share when we obey His call to do so.

Do you see people without Christ as perishing?  Are we in fellowship with God ourselves and living right?  Are we ready to share God’s message and not our own?

Have a great night and God bless.