The Jonah Principle Pt. 1B

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.”

We are continuing through the book of Jonah looking at the principles that God has put in their for our benefit. We told you that God has a word for your life and mine. The first word we looked at was the word of Grace and all that it means to the life of a believer. Today's word is a word of Love. One of the few scriptures every one can quote is John 3:16, you know the one for God so loved the world. Have you pondered the implications of that, God loved this crazy, broken world so much he sent His son to die in our place. I want to focus on the word of Love. 
Notice the words in 1 John 4:7-8 "Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love." Notice the idea here God is Love, not this Superior being waiting in Heaven to smite us in judgment, but a God who loves us unconditionally. If God is Love then watch what happens when I substitute the word love for the word God in 1 Corinthians 13
God is patient, God is kind. God does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant, 5 is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not irritable, and does not keep a record of wrongs. 6  God finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. 7.  God bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." I was floored when I read it that way, it made me see God in a whole new light. Growing up God was always angry and especially in the Old Testament, but through Christ and what He did at Calvary, we see God as Father not judge. Granted in Revelation God will dispense judgment on the Earth, but until then, He wants to expose us to His love and grace. 

Have you experienced God in this way, if not I challenge you to experience it. Sit at his feet, be still and let His love wash over you in a powerful way. 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Let me experience your love in a powerful and real way today. Let me also show that love to everyone I meet. In Jesus' Name. Amen. 

Grace and peace be multiplied to you. 
Eric