For today, One Year Bible Online links here.
If you want justice, seek God’s favor. If all you really want is to get your own way, seek the favor of government officials. Justice comes from God, not from an ever more powerful government.
There is nothing more wonderful and pleasant than living in harmony with our fellow believers. When we are able to do so it is evidence that God is blessing us. When we fail to do so it is evidence that we are failing to be completely faithful to God.
What struck me about this was the fact that John wept when no one was found to open the scroll. What is this scroll that someone should cry because it could not be opened and read? My conclusion is that this scroll represents the word of God, His instructions, commands, and promises about how people should live. If no one can open and read the scroll, then no one can know how they should live in order to please God and attain true happiness. This is why it was such a tragedy that John cried when no one was found who was worthy and able to open the scroll. However, just as John began to weep, he was told that One had been found who worthy and able to open the scroll. Jesus was, and is, that one. It is through Jesus that we are able to fully understand God’s will for us.
I always struggle with my blog on the book of Jonah, not because I have trouble finding something to write, but because there is too much too talk about. There is really several sermons in this passage…and since I am trying to keep this to less than a full sermon I find it hard to know what message to focus on.
However, I decided that today I would do a sort of character study of Jonah. Jonah wanted to serve God and do His will. He even knew what God’s will was. However, he hated the Assyrians and wanted to see them suffer the judgment from God they so thoroughly deserved. When God called Jonah to go and preach to the people of Nineveh, Jonah did not want to go. Jonah was glad to hear God’s judgment against Nineveh. Jonah did not want to go because he knew that if the people of Nineveh listened to his message and repented of their sins, God would forgive them and withhold His judgment. Jonah did not want God to withhold His judgment. When what he feared took place, Jonah was mad at God for showing mercy. All too often we are like Jonah, but God wants us to seek His mercy for sinners, even those who are our enemies. Rather than pray for God’s judgment on our enemies, let us pray that He will have mercy on them.