Great faith in an unwilling heart

From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God.  He said: “In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me.  From the depths of the grave I called for help, and you listened to my cry....  I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you.  What I have vowed I will make good.  Salvation comes from the Lord.”  Jonah 2:1-2, 9

I know a retired pastor who from time to time used to remind his congregation, “There is more to Christianity than simply ‘being right.’”  It was good wisdom, well spoken.  For who among us has not shunned individuals or people groups, even as we believe, confess and proclaim the Word of God?

The paradox is not new.  Jonah was a man of great faith, a preacher and a worshiper of “the God of heaven who made the sea and the land. (Jonah 1:9)”  He confessed God to be “a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. (Jonah 4:2b-3)”

And that was precisely Jonah's problem!  He had no interest in preaching to the people of Nineveh, because he knew these enemies of Israel would turn from their evil ways and receive from God the very compassion that Jonah embraced for himself!  When it came to the spiritual well-being of those he despised, “being right” was good enough for Jonah.  He had great faith … and an unwilling heart.

But to God, “being right” always involves “doing right.”  Even to our enemies.  As God said to Jonah, “Should I not be concerned about that great city? (Jonah 4:11)”

So we have to ask ourselves, who do we deem unworthy of the same rich blessings God has given to us?  With what people groups are we unwilling to share God’s love, God’s truth, God’s grace?  Nineveh responded to the word of God with prayer and fasting, repentance and belief.  Who would do the same, if we were to speak the truth in love, today? 

I think we’d be surprised.

Lord, grace us with hearts that are eager to speak your truth in love.

[To see the daily reading in Jonah 2:1-10, click here.]