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The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying, ‘Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.’So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days’ walk across.Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s walk. And he cried out, ‘Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!’ And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth. When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it. (Jonah 3:1-5, 10)
The Bible has shown in several places how when God speaks to an individual and asks them to share their faith about God, people respond, and in great crowds. I remember Peter's first sermon after the arrival of the Holy Spirit upon them and 3,000 responded and believed. This passage, which makes us think of whales swallowing this disobedient guy, shows the true purpose and plan of God; Jonah preached a difficult message, people listened, and the entire city responded, including the king who decreed that all should repent, wear sackcloth and fast before the Lord. Even animals were to do that! Such was the response of this message.
Jonah knew the city to which he had been called, and some have compared it to modern day Las Vegas (think sin city), and he knew the simple but difficult sermon he was to preach: "Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" When God revealed that to him, he chose to go the other way. He set sail on the ocean away from the landlocked city of Nineveh. You know the rest of the story how he ended up in the belly of a large fish that we assume was a whale and in the deepest part of his misery (in this fish's belly) Jonah cries out to God, God listens, the fish vomits him on the shore. Jonah makes his way to Nineveh and preaches and his faithfulness produces fruitfulness.
Sometimes it's like that for us. We know we are to do something for God, we size it up and we may say, "You know what, Lord? No, thanks." And we go in the opposite direction. Hint: This is not faithfulness. Sometimes we think again, usually after praying, and we say, "Okay, Lord, I will go." And boom! The results we thought were not possible become a blessing to the Lord and to the people to whom we have shared our faith. That's fruitfulness.
This has been a week of calls and responses. Make this a week of powerful, positive responses that bless God and God's people in your life!
PRAYER: Loving God, we pray for wisdom and strength as we face the challenges and opportunities you are providing for us. We pray that we might be faithful and in turn, fruitful for the work of Your Kingdom. This we pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Make a difference today by being faithful and fruitful.
Eradio Valverde
PRAYER REQUESTS AND UPDATES: Dear reader, I received word that our sister Jane Boothe died this morning at 4 a.m. Please keep her family in your prayers as they mourn the loss of a lovely lady of faith. May God's comfort be with them is our prayer. Please lift up Dick Goss who undergoes surgery in San Antonio later this morning. Pray for a successful surgery and a great recovery.
