He is the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end. (Revelation 22:13)

He is the creator of the universe. (Genesis 1)

He longs to be gracious to me. (Isaiah 30:18)

He numbers the hairs on my head. (Luke 12:7)

This past Sunday, we began our second to last study of the book of Jonah. We examined Jonah’s response to God’s grace and mercy shown to a people he felt did not deserve it. When God relented his wrath, rather than rejoice, Jonah retorted “It is better for me to die than to live,” because he knew that God would forgive. But did he really know God?

It seems like Jonah ‘knew of’ God, like we ‘know of’ President Obama or Jill Scott. I mean they are wonderful and all, but unless the President is enforcing a law or Jill is paying back my school loans, house and car notes, I certainly wouldn’t structure my life around their desires. Likewise Jonah knew of God. To know God is to love him. (1 Corinthians 8:3) If Jonah knew God he would have rejoiced in his lover’s heart, in his desire for salvation for everyone. And he would have moved heaven and earth to see it come about.

So, why is it so hard for me to stop my day pray or read his word some mornings? Why is it so hard for me to open my mouth and share about God to unbelievers? Why is it so hard for me to reject my will and do his? Why is it easy for me to get an attitude when I’m wronged? Is it because I too don’t really know the God I serve? Because if I truly believed that he formed the world with his words or that he loves me so much that he gave his son for my wounds and sins, who lavishes his love on me, how could I reject, dismiss or forget a God like that.

To echo the message, I’m not there yet, but by God’s grace, that’s where I’m headed. What about you?

Categories: obedience

Tagged as: citychurchofsacramento Grace Jesus Jonah knowing God unforgiveness

audreyell

I am a writer, a poet. I peruse life like a storybook, a tale, where the ending is unknown but believed to be happily ever after. I am an attorney by trade. I am a singer, poet, and actress by desire and gift. I am a member of City Church of Sacramento and I am growing in grace and repentance. I am a daughter, a sister, an aunt, and friend, all of which I am gratefully budding in.