HOW WILL GOD GET OUR ATTENTION?
Jonah 2:1-10, 3:1-10
Last week we
saw in the example of Jonah that you can run from God but you cannot hide. Let
us look at that example one more time for a minute from a different angle. Have
you ever had your mom or dad, your boss or coworkers, your husband or wife or
even a close friend tell you or, depending on your relationship, ask you to do
something and you refused to do it? I still remember one occasion in particular
when I did not do what I was supposed to do when I was grade school age, and my
dad did not appreciate my resistance. I do not remember what I did or did not
do, but I know dad had a punishment in mind I did not like. He was going to
give me a spanking and instead of accepting my punishment I tried to run away
from dad. He may not have said you can run but you cannot hide, but I think he
said something like, “When you get ready to come in, I will be waiting for
you!” If I had simply done what I was told to do, that would have never
happened. Dad did not do much spanking, so I know what I did deserved the
punishment I ultimately got. I do not believe I ever did or did not do
something ever again to deserve that kind of teaching moment. Has anyone here done
something like that?
In the 2nd
chapter, we read what is called Jonah’s prayer. By what Jonah said to God, we
can see he realizes he deserved the punishment he was given. Jonah admitted he believed
his sin was going to lead to his death. As he saw his life about to end, Jonah
saw God’s hand on his life. In the 7th verse Jonah said, “When my
life was ebbing away, I remembered you, Lord, and my prayer rose to you, to
your Holy Temple.” In verse 8 Jonah tells where he truly was in relationship to
the Lord. Talking about himself to God, Jonah says, “Those who cling to
worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.” The honesty and the
desperation Jonah is feeling made him realize how far from God’s will he had
drifted. When Jonah realized his physical life and spiritual life were as good
as dead, the Lord helped him to realize it is not too late for things to
change. Jonah had been chasing things that had separated him from God. Jonah
realized for those who do that you will forfeit the grace God has for all who
believe.
How much of
the time am I doing and saying the things God wants me to do? Have I, have you,
allowed some of the things of this world to have too much space in my life or
in your life? How often do we, like Jonah, have to hit rock bottom before we
realize we are off course? God has given us examples like Jonah to help us
realize to not wait until it seems all is lost. God’s grace is available all
the time. God does not want to see us struggle. God wants us to be victorious
in every way. Jonah knew God was giving him a new opportunity.
When Jonah
realized it, he had a thankful heart for that second chance he was given. Jonah
vowed to God, “I will do what you have called me to do.” When we veer off
course, do we have the courage and the desire to be like Jonah and say, “I
messed up God. Please help me.” After Jonah came to the place of repentance,
God had another opportunity in store for Jonah at Nineveh. Right there within
easy walking distance of Nineveh, God has the big fish spit Jonah out right on
the beach. We often times believe this big fish was a whale, but I believe God
created this special fish just for Jonah. He may have been the only one that
ever saw this fish. I believe God can do anything. After God had got Jonah’s
attention in the most unusual way, God once again told Jonah to take his
message to Nineveh. This time Jonah did what God had told him to do. So how did
Jonah get greeted when he arrived in Nineveh? He probably did not look the best
after riding around inside a fish for three days! On top of that, he is telling
everyone how wicked they are. You would think the people of Nineveh, as well as
its leaders would say, “Who do you think you are saying this to us?” To remind
you of what the scripture said, the city of Nineveh was so big it would take
three days to see the entire city. Scholars claim the city probably had around
120,000 people in it. Jonah is basically saying in 40 days this city will cease
to exist. So, were the people mad? Were they ready to kill the messenger? No.
They accepted the warning and did everything they could do to show God they got
the message. Going as far as putting sackcloth on not only the people but also
their animals. At this time in history, sackcloth was one of the ways to show
you are in sorrow or you are seeking forgiveness for a wrong you have done. The
king went as far as to say, “Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give
up their evil ways and their violence. Who knows, God may yet relent and with
compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not parish.” So, what
happened after all they deserved to be destroyed because of the evil they had
committed against God? God destroyed them, right? No. We read that “When God
saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways he had compassion
and did not bring upon them destruction.” We see another example of God’s
patience and love.
When anyone admits
to their mistakes, their sins, God will forgive and restore what was lost. We
have seen two examples of God’s mercy and grace. First Jonah not only refused
to do what God had called him to do, but also tried to run just as far away as
he could. In spite of that, God gave Jonah a second chance. The same thing is true
of the city of Nineveh. They were so far off track, God warned them of what was
about to happen. Instead of ignoring the warning, they accepted the fact they
deserved punishment and as a result God gave them another chance also.
How will God
get our attention? We see what it took for Jonah and for Nineveh. What about
you and me? Maybe most all of you have already had that moment when God got
your attention. If so, what did it take? Was it a gentle nudge? Or was it a
rock bottom experience? Or perhaps you saw such an incredible moment of God’s
love and mercy that made it real for you from that point on. Everything God
does he does because he loves us. What’s your story? We saw what lengths God
has to go to sometimes get our attention. Remember God wants us to be blessed
while we are on this earth. And the only way that can happen is to recognize
God’s love and mercy through Jesus Christ our Savior.
Pastor Larry
Announcements:
Bible Study 9:30 Tuesday
May 9 Mothers’ Day
May 12 Board Meeting
May 16 Council Meeting immediately after worship
Camp Emmanuel schedules and registration forms are
available in the back of the sanctuary. Thank you for your generous donations
to the Camp! They will be greatly appreciated!
June 6-12 High School Camp
June 13-19 Middle School Camp
June 20-23 Junior Camp
July 9-11 Pre-Junior Camp
July 26-30 Day Camp
August 6-8 Men’s Camp
September 3-6 Family Camp
The parsonage has been sold, and our new neighbor,
Terry Southard, is moving in. Welcome, Terry and family!
Women’s Fellowship is hoping to make strawberry
pies. Stay tuned for details. We will need help.
Please place your offering in the plates at the back
of the sanctuary. Thank you for your continued giving!
Extra masks are at the back of the sanctuary.
Donation Box: VBS
First Sundays: food donations for food banks
Pastor Larry Traxler- (217) 454-2362
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Keep
in Your Prayers
Lauren Gentry; David
Roe; Tera Runyan; Holly Flenner; Carl and Wilma Cable; Larry Albro; Mike
McCleery; Sherry Wright; Mike and Carol Seidenstricker; Sonna Hall; Brittany
Wright; Evelyn Eads; Anna Gentry Thompson; Marlene & Arnold Schultz; Clyde
and Nancy Fansler; Adiline Young; Kim Lehmann; Dylan Junior; Doug Fansler; Liza Yore; Candy Dobson; Anna Rose
Larrick; Gary Jesse; Norm & Marge Starr; Shawn Cain; Robert Cripe; Mayo &
Darlene Hanaver; Zola Copeland; Patty Cripe; Lauren Gross; Stacie Warren; Nancy
Gorrell; many unspoken requests; Coronavirus crisis; healthcare workers and
first responders; the families of the 570,000+ people who have died from
COVID-19; those who are ill from the virus; the unemployed; school teachers,
staff, and students; victims of natural disasters; victims of shootings;
nursing home residents; the Nigerian church
Military and Other
Services and their families
Brethren Volunteer
Service workers; Disaster project workers
Poetry Corner:
bees
them busy bees sure be a buzzin
maybe there could be a couple hundred dozen
they all live in a self made hive
where only Pooh seems to be able to survive
we laugh at him ‘cause he is so funny
when he gets a hankerin for some real good hunny
but those workers though really seem to mind
when he visits they sting him in his furry behind
bees do stay quite busy all the day long
their wings a singing a lively song
I often wonder what this devotion all means
working hard for just one queen
longing to study them, I would if I could
but if they object, well that’s not gonna end good
so I keep my distance from God’s creatures that are hard at
it
and marvel from a far not stirring them up a bit!
By Robin Shively
Our Mission Statement:
Love God, grow with
others, serve faithfully, reach the lost, find peace.
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