Читать книгу Lessons Learned from Jonah - Robert Snitko - Страница 7

The narrative of Jonah is most commonly known as the book about the man inside of a whale. But it is much more than that. In fact, Jonah is one of the most profound stories that we find throughout the entire Bible. It illustrates who we are as fallen human beings, along with our sinful tendencies to run away from God in the moments that He calls us to obedience. The book of Jonah is loaded with God’s grace which continues to pursue us, even in the midst of our rebellion and selfishness. Despite Jonah’s self-seeking and self-serving heart, God, faithfully sought him out. This is because our God is one of grace, love, and forgiveness. In Him, we find comfort, peace, and encouragement, as He never gives up on us, even when we are focused on ourselves.

The reality is that we all chase self-preservation. However, through Jonah’s story, God shows that He is merciful to us in the midst of our selfish pursuits, providing grace upon grace so that we may experience His love towards us. Even though we constantly fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), there is hope for us in fulfilling the will of God. That hope is found in the faithfulness of God who offers to us His Son, Jesus Christ, so that we may experience the riches of His love.

I was inspired to write this devotional because of my passion for the book of Jonah, and because there is much to be learned from studying the ways that we are similar—and dissimilar—to Jonah. Each devotion will conclude with Christological implications for us today. In other words, each one will wrap up with thoughts on how the gospel meets us in the midst of our situations. The gospel is the good news that nourishes us and sustains us. These Christological implications will allow us to see how God covers us in His grace through and through, even when we fall short time and time again.

The grace of God brings restoration and healing for all who are suffering and broken. The grace of God is never-ending as it displays in the Jonah narrative. God pursues Jonah, the sailors, and the Ninevites regardless of their sinful acts of rebellion towards Him. The narrative displays how the grace of God brings restoration to those who rebel against God. So, let’s dive into the story and experience the wondrous love that offered from our gracious God.