Jonah’s prayer can teach us a lot about our relationship with God.  His prayer went through 4 stages:

Asking God for Help

Accepting God’s Discipline

Trusting God’s Promises

Yielding to God’s Will

From the Fray,

-chaplain mesaeh

We are most cruel to those who threaten our identity.  If you see yourself—first and foremost—as a product of your skin color and nationality, then you’ll rationalize discrimination against anyone who didn’t win the same genetic lottery.

Christians serve a God who directs them to love and serve everyone—even those people.

From the Fray,-chaplain mesaeh

Jonah pt 7: A Better Emotion

At last, Jonah learns the power of God’s compassion for all people.  Because of His love, God connected His heart to yours.

He did that through the work and person of Jesus.

From the Fray,-chaplain mesaeh

Nobody is born hateful or full of prejudice.  So, where does it come from? There are at least 3 ways to develop bitterness and bigotry:

1. Let your hurt turn into hate

2. Turn preferences into prejudices

3. If you idolize, you will demonize

From the Fray,

-chaplain mesaeh

When the story of Jonah comes up, the fish usually takes center stage.  And for many people, that fish is a deal-breaker.  So, I want to offer a few thoughts on the fish for your consideration.

From the Fray,

-chaplain mesaeh

Jonah was sent as an agent of God’s love & mercy, as well as His justice & wrath.  We cannot separate the two.

Accordingly, Dr. Martin Luther King’s call for racial equality and social justice was firmly grounded in his belief in a God of judgment.

From the Fray,

-chaplain mesaeh

In the midst of their storm, the sailors did what most of us do: they rowed harder. However, they didn't experience peace until they surrendered, asking God to see them through.

Is there something in your life you're refusing to surrender to God? Are you asking more "why" questions than seeking to find out "what, who, or where?"

"What, God, do you want me to learn?"

"Who, God, do you want me to serve and love?"

"Where, God, do you want me to go?"

From the Fray,

-chaplain mesaeh

We are most cruel to those who threaten our identity. If you see yourself—first and foremost—as a product of your skin color and nationality, then you’ll rationalize discrimination against anyone who didn’t win the same genetic lottery.

Christians serve a God who directs them to love and serve everyone—even those people.

From the Fray,

-chaplain mesaeh

Jonah's neighbors weren't like him: they looked different, acted differently, and worshipped a different god. Consequently, Jonah could not see in them any capacity for goodness.  In other words, Jonah was racist and prejudicial.

Through the words of pagan sailors, Jonah learned a lesson relevant to believers today: the entire world should expect The Church to seek their welfare.

From the Fray,

-chaplain mesaeh

God told Jonah to warn a bunch of terrorists about their impending doom. Jonah refused and took a boat going the other way.  We have a lot in common with Jonah: including a God who loves us enough to run after us.

From the Fray,

-chaplain mesaeh