In Touch Devotional 13th December 2024, By Charles Stanley, Friday Message
TOPIC: Brokenness—The Protest
SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Jonah 1:1-17
The children’s story about Jonah and the big fish presents the prophet in a rather rosy light: After three days in the fish’s belly, Jonah relents and goes merrily on to Nineveh. End of story.
The narrative in the Bible has the same components (storm, big fish, repentant Ninevites) but the context is totally different. From the moment Jonah chose to flee from God’s plan until the end of the book, his heart was in rebellion.
The inhabitants of Nineveh were Assyrians, a people known for their aggression and cruelty. They were the sworn enemies of Israel, so Jonah had good reason to despise them. But God loved the Ninevites and desired their repentance. The challenging task of ministering to them carried an additional purpose: breaking Jonah’s unloving spirit—an attitude so strong that he preferred to die rather than see the enemy saved (Jonah 4:3).
God wanted to mold Jonah’s character to reflect His own. Though the Lord wanted a willing, loving servant, Jonah resisted at every turn. Pride and hatred drove him ever deeper into rebellion and away from the Lord. The Ninevites fasted and turned from their sin, but their minister stewed in his bitterness.
What keeps you from serving the Lord fully? Though God’s process may be painful, it’s done for your good and His glory.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Timothy 1-3
THOUGHT FOR TODAY: The Lord calls us to share His love with others—even those who have hurt us.