That is why I fled to Tarshish at the beginning; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and ready to relent from punishing. 3 And now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” 4 And the Lord said, “Is it right for you to be angry?”
Jonah 4:2b-3
We love tidy stories. Three acts with a Happy-Ever-After at the end. Maybe that’s why we skip the 4th chapter of Jonah. Without this last act, we have a story of repentance and forgiveness with everyone content at the end. But scripture pushes further, challenging us to ponder the full extent of God’s grace. If God is as merciful as we believe, perhaps we, his body, will have to expand who we are willing to care for.
[hear sermon audio]
This week, take some time to dive into these scriptures and questions during your devotion time.
Texts to read:
Questions to Ponder:
- Who comes to mind when you hear God’s final question: And should I not be concerned about Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons who do not know their right hand from their left?
- How do your present feelings affect them?
- How do your present feelings affect you?
Do and share:
- Make a list of those you find it difficult to offer grace. Set aside time this week to pray for each person on the list. What does God say to you through that prayer?
- Post on social media about your gratitude for a time you were given grace. You can tag us @dpumc.
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