The Jonah Principle Pt 1

Jonah 1:1-2
The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 “Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it because their evil has come up before me.”

Everyone knows the story of Jonah and the "whale", but I wonder if we have ever dug deeper in the story. Digging looking for principles to guide and help us in our walk with God. Over the next several days, I intend to walk through the book of Jonah and help all of us see what I call the Jonah principle. I want this to be a blessing and help to all. There will be an audio version on my podcast site as well. Let's dig in. Principle number one is God has a plan for you. 

Sometimes it may seem that life just happens to us and our births, lives and deaths seem to have no meaning or purpose. We see select men and women do awe inspiring things and make a dent in the history books, then examining our own lives as not measuring up. I can certainly live up to the why was I born question. My birth mother was 16 and sent to Alabama to have me. I was born premature, and she named me so I wouldn't die as a baby doe. Well needless to say, I survived and was adopted my a couple who took the responsibility to raise me, as best they could with an ADHD child in the days before it was completely understood. Since that time I have had a pretty dull, unremarkable life. So when I read texts like this one, I have to pause and ask myself, do I have a purpose? Although the enemy tells me no, I believe that God says "Yes I do."

The first thing we see in the text is that God has a word for Jonah. That also means that He has a word for you and your life. I believe He gives all of us a word of grace. We see this term for the first time in Genesis as Noah found GRACE in the eyes of the Lord. (Emphasis mine) Grace we sing about it, talk about it, but do we really live in it? Grace that completely covers sin, and makes us the children of God! As I look back at 47 years of life, I have come to the realization that my understanding of grace has been so limited and shallow. Even when I was walking outside the fellowship of God, His grace never let me go, never let me out of his site, and pulled me back home, welcoming me like the prodigal with love and celebration. That means my friend He hasn't given up on you, no matter the circumstance He offers grace. Paul had an issue in his life and he approached God about it three time, and God responds with "But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9 CSB) He not only has saving Grace he has Sufficient grace to get us through every need.  That means He will bring you through, and bring you into a place of rest and victory, DESPITE the circumstances, He offers Grace. 

Tomorrow we will examine another word, the word of love. 

Prayer: Lord help me to accept your grace for all my needs, and to sit at your feet and hear your words as you speak to me. In Jesus' name, Amen

Grace and peace be multiplied to you my friends.
Eric