Jonah 1:1-5
Matthew 5:43-48

In this first message from Jonah’s first chapter, we come across one of the hallmarks of our Christian faith...namely, we love our enemies. Jonah’s reticence to go to Nineveh was because the Ninevites were sworn enemies of Israel and were furthermore horrible and heinous and violent people. But God takes horrible and heinous and violent people and redeems them and makes them His own. He’s not looking for perfect people to be in His kingdom because there are none...He’s instead looking for, searching out, seeking diligently for sinners who need His grace. And He calls all of us, just like Jonah, to be ambassadors of His grace every day.God is all about ridiculous requests, especially when salvation, love and forgiveness is on the line.