Jonah 4

Scripture 

Jonah 4:9-10 

9 But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” “It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.” 10 But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. 11 And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?”

Observation-What does it say? 

Jonah is very angry with God for his compassion over the city of Nineveh. (God relented from his anger towards them and did not bring the destruction he promised). Jonah became very depressed about it and asked the Lord to just take His life. So, God provided for him by giving him a shady plant to ease His discomfort and it made Jonah happy…until, God sent a worm and scorching heat, which withered the plant and led to Jonah being angry and depressed again. Then God asked Jonah if he had a right to be angry about the plant if he didn’t even take care of it, tend to it and make it grow.

Understanding-What does it mean? 

God was trying to teach Jonah about compassion and His specific compassion for the city of Nineveh.

Just like God tended to Jonah in his anger and depression, God was trying to show Jonah why He was concerned about Nineveh. They needed to be loved, cared for and tended to in order to continue to grow. 

Life Application

God is calling us to minister out of our comfort zones.

If 2020 has taught me anything, it’s that Jesus’ compassion and mercy is missing in this world and BOTH sides are guilty! I’ve found myself guilty of it as well. As a result of all the tension and fighting, guess who’s suffering? The people who God has called us to minister to.  Let us not be people who are pushing others away from Christ’s grace, mercy and compassion, but rather be an attractive presence in the life of someone who needs Jesus. Like Pastor says, we are called to be the “atmosphere changers.”

Luke 6:32- “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.”

Luke 6:36- “You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.”

-Michelle Gaddi

Proverbs_21

Scripture‭‭

 

Proverbs‬ ‭21:2-3, & 27‬ ‭NLT

 

“People may be right in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their heart. The Lord is more pleased when we do what is right and just than when we offer him sacrifices.

 

The sacrifice of an evil person is detestable, especially when it is offered with wrong motives.”

 

 

Observation-What does it say?

 

Another set of proverbs given by King Solomon. In these particular verses he writes of God knowing our true heart and motives behind our actions.

 

 

Understanding-What does it mean?

 

You can’t fool God.

 

I remember when I was still new to my faith. Deep down I thought by me tithing, I can buy God’s favor and protection. I thought if I didn’t give back to God, something bad was going to happen to me. Maybe something breaking down with my car, in my home, or a family sickness. In a sense, some of that can be true. But we all know you can’t buy God’s favor. I mean what was I thinking?! Did I really think that I can buy God to be my personal bodyguard?! You see, although God is my protector, it isn’t because I paid Him to do it.

The same goes for a time when I would hear stories of someone like Pastor Rick Warren, (the author of A Purpose Driven Life and Lead Pastor at Saddleback Church), and how generous he was with his money. I would read stories of no matter how much he would give back, God would bless him with so much more money. I thought to myself, “Maybe if I’m generous like that, God will make me rich too?!” Now although Jesus does call us to be generous with others and our giving, I don’t think it was so that we can become filthy rich. For both scenarios that I stated, I had to ask myself, “What are my true motives behind my actions? “Was I doing these things to receive God’s presence? Or was I doing it to receive His presents?” 🤔

God knew my heart at that time. He knew my selfish ambitions behind my actions. It took the Holy Spirit to get a hold of me and remind me why I should be doing the things God tells me to do. Not because I want something in return, but because I love Him. I love Him because He first loved me.

 

“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”-‭‭Romans‬ ‭5:8‬ ‭NLT

 

 

Life Application

 

Give generously what you can with your time or money, with no strings attached.

 

Tis the season! Be giving to someone today. No strings attached. No ulterior motives. Remember what God did for us and still continues to do for us. Remember why we do what we do as His children. Spread the true joy of Christmas to all!

 

-Moses Gaddi

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Jonah 1

Scripture  Jonah 1:3 

But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. So he went down to Joppa, found a ship which was going to Tarshish, paid the fare and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. Observation-What does it say?  This book was named after the main character and was likely authored by him as well.  At the onset of the story, Jonah is sent by God to the land of Nineveh to share the message of His love and tell them to repent.  Ironically enough, the name Jonah means “dove.”  Throughout the Bible, the dove is a symbol of the Holy Spirit and peace.  But, instead of bringing peace to the people of Nineveh, Jonah ran in the opposite direction of God’s calling.  Nineveh was a city, as described in the book of Nahum, who was set against the Lord and plotted evil against the people of Israel.  Even though Jonah was disobedient, God has a way of making sure his plans are carried out.   Understanding-What does it mean?  I will be having my “Virtual Graduation” ceremony tomorrow for my bachelor’s degree.  A degree that is intended to take four years took me a nice even 18 and a half years.  But, college and I have had a funny relationship.  The first time I tried to go full time, I was in a car accident that almost took my life.  The second time I tried to go full time, which was at Bible college, I got in another accident that totaled my truck and broke my mom’s back.  Later on in that semester, I found myself in the hospital in need of “exploratory surgery.”  Exploratory surgery is never a phrase you want to hear.   After finding a career, I tried to go back again, but was interrupted by the birth of my three sons.  As time went on, I began to believe it was never going to be a possibility for me.  Looking at it now, I can see God was taking me on a different path than I was trying to go down.  Much like Jonah, I was trying to do things on my own terms.  But, God had a different way, which included a program he intended, which made me grow in ways I would never have thought possible.  And, also like Jonah, it changed my view of the Gospel message and who God wants to hear the message of His hope. God has a way of making sure His plans are carried out, even when that means major accidents, being swallowed by a giant fish, or even the death of His son.  Because of this, we can find comfort in His words, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9) Life Application  Holy Spirit, help me to have the humility to trust your plans.  Give me the patience to go through the hard times in life. In the good times, help me to give you the glory.  Help me to always remember your love is for all the earth.
-Tyler Galloway