Yesterday at MCC we wrapped up our summer series, “Bible Stories for Grown-ups,” by talking about the story of Jonah. Here are a few take-aways:
God wants to involve you in his story. God invited Jonah to be involved in what he was up to, and the same is true for each and every one of us. There is a Divine claim on our lives. The Creator of the universe has a plan and purpose for your life!
You can run, but you can’t hide. Jonah learned a powerful lesson when he ran away from God…and that is God will allow you to run, but you can’t out run him. He will allow you to choose to disobey, but you can’t hide your disobedience from him. Runners lack peace, joy, and hope, because those are things that only God can provide.
God loves all people, pursues all people, and wants to rescue all people. Jonah ran away from God because God was sending him to Nineveh. Nineveh was the capital city of the Assyrian empire, which was threatening the very existence of Jonah and his fellow Israelites. Jonah ran because it would have been a benefit to him if Nineveh was destroyed. But Jonah learned a powerful lesson: God loves everyone, and wants to rescue everyone, even the people we deem unfit or unworthy.
Jonah’s story ends with him sitting in the hot sun, angry and bitter towards God for not doing things his way. I hope my story does not end like Jonah’s. I hope my story ends with a celebration. I want to be the kind of person who celebrates God’s grace and forgiveness where ever and when ever it happens. Even when it happens to my enemies.
So, have you ever been like Jonah?
Looking forward to hearing from you.
josh
Josh Scott 
When it comes to certain aspects in life I feel like I can be a little bitter. That is something I have to work on. I don’t like being negative and misunderstanding when something good happens to others. I want to rejoice and be happy, even if it isn’t for my closet friend. I am like you…I don’t want my story to end like Jonah. The message was awesome yesterday and really hit home again.
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