Jonah 1:11-13

Jonah 1:11-13

English Standard Version 

  It'd be fascinating to do a study about what this would look like in different cultures.  Were this 21st century America, with the declining social trust we have in many places, I think Jonah might be immediately thrown into the sea.  In this culture, however, the sailors know that Jonah is the cause of the storm, and he asks to be thrown into the sea... and yet the men row hard to try and save the ship.  They do not want to throw Jonah into the sea, despite the fact that Jonah brought this upon them.  They still want to save him, if possible.

  Perhaps these men are the heroes of the story?  

  Notice heroic actions in the world around us.  They're not often performed by people who are the center of attention, but are often done by those quietly laboring to make the world a better place.  May we see their example and celebrate that, rather than the social media post of a celebrity that may or may not be worth our emulation and adulation.  May we celebrate those who labor for others, and may we aspire to be the type of people who look a guilty person in the eye and do everything we can to save them, for that's exactly what Jesus Christ does for us.

Jonah 1:7-10

Jonah 1:7-10 

English Standard Version 

  I can't help but wonder at the seriousness with which the other sailors take Jonah's actions.  They realize at once that he has done something awful, which has brought great danger to them all.  But Jonah made the decision in a moment, without thinking, only selfishly wanting to avoid peril or embarrassment.

  I think this probably happens more than we like to think.  In a moment, we make snap decisions, afraid of one thing or motivated by another, without necessarily thinking it all the way through.  We often do this as children, because our brains aren't fully developed, but it's easy to do as adults, too.  We try to avoid punishment, and perhaps believe a little white lie won't be so bad, or that no one will notice if we cut a corner or two.  But others see, and they note the seriousness of our offenses.  

  What takes real humility, and real trust, is to let others speak into our lives in such a way that they can help us know where the risks are.  Do we let them speak honestly to us about our flaws and our poor decisions?  Do we consult with one another in such times, hoping for the wisdom of the community to guide us?  Are we open to correction?

Jonah 1:4-6

Jonah 1:4-6 

English Standard Version 

  So Jonah is sailing in the exact opposite direction that God has told him to go, hoping that God won't notice Jonah exiting stage right.  (Narrator's note:  God notices)  A giant storm is sent, and every sailor on the ship is crying out to their gods, hoping for salvation.  This reminds of Elijah and his duel with the false prophets of Baal, who are crying out in the same way, but Elijah mocks them because Elijah knows there is only one true God.  Elijah tells them to shout louder in case their god is in the bathroom or asleep.  

  Jonah knows their cries won't change things, because Jonah realizes the storm is for him.  Jonah has brought others to danger through his carelessness and selfishness.  Jonah is ready to give up -- that's the only way he could fall asleep in the midst of such a storm.  But the captain won't let Jonah give up.  

  I hope more of us can be like the captain.  Can we notice the people who are in despair, who are ready to give up?  Can we pay attention and see the people in the world who are in such pain that they want to curl up and let it all slip away?  

Jonah 1:1-3

Jonah 1:1-3 

English Standard Version 

  Jonah will forever be one of my favorite books in the Bible.  Not because Jonah is the leading and most Godly figure in the Bible, but because he's one of the most human people in there, and therefore one of the most relatable.  Jonah gets just about everything wrong.  We could spend months teaching people about what not to do based on Jonah's life, and yet it's included in the Bible.  Jonah is a prime example of the work that God can do through flawed people. It reminds me of the teaching in seminary when they tell us that the Holy Spirit transforms the words of the preacher into the Word of God, meaning that effective preaching doesn't depend on the worthiness of the preacher, but rather on the Holy Spirit, which is a far more dependable vehicle.  That relieves some stress!

  Now, this doesn't mean that we're not all called to do the best work possible.  All it means is that despite our failures, God can still use us and proclaim the Gospel through us.  We don't have to be afraid of where we fall short -- we can read the book of Jonah and give thanks for the ways that God uses broken people like us.

Psalm 105:41-43

Psalm 105:41-43 

English Standard Version

  Most people would tell you that water doesn't flow out of a rock.  They'd look at the chemical composition and tell you that's impossible.  They'd say that if you're in the desert and needed water, you'd have to go look elsewhere.  

  If your mindset is limited to what is possible based on this world, then that would be correct. But God has a habit of doing the impossible.  There are things God can do because God created the heavens and the earth.  God can make a way where there is no way, including through death itself -- God punched a hole through it and let light and life stream through for those of us who thirst for just that.

  I wish I could say that I knew exactly when and where God would do such things.  But a God who is powerful enough to bring water from a rock isn't a God we can control.  We can choose to submit, which means accepting God's will.  Sometimes, this will mean that we hear a 'No' from God.  If this same God has proven to be loving and gracious, then we can still worship a God like that because we can trust that this same God is working in our best interests consistently.

Psalm 31:23-24

Psalm 31:23-24 

English Standard Version

  I love the way the Psalmist speaks to the soul.  So often, we think we should just feel things.  We wait until we feel right, and if we don't feel a certain way, maybe we don't pray or serve or go out of our way.  We let our feelings dictate our actions.

  The Psalms are consistently telling us to lead our hearts.  They're reminding their heart and soul of God's promises and God's faithfulness, and leading their heart into a place where they trust God, and then they base their lives on that.  We can lead our hearts.  We can teach our souls.  If we consistently point ourselves towards God's faithfulness, then we'll find that we feel like pursuing God more than if we just passively wait for a feeling to lead us closer.

Psalm 31:21-22

Psalm 31:21-22 

English Standard Version 

  In the dark night of the soul, it's easy to think that we are alone, that no one hears our cry, that no one sees us suffer.  We wonder if God has forgotten us.

  But like Jonah sailing off in the wrong direction or Naomi in her suffering, God doesn't forget about us, even when we think God might.  God sees us when we weep, when life is broken, and God hears our cries.

  When the church is at its best, the church reaches out to those who are suffering, and reminds them of this.  Who can you reach out to today and let them know that you hear their cries?

Psalm 31:19-20

Psalm 31:19-20 

English Standard Version 

  The world seems to have a limit on goodness -- we find ways to fight and squabble about everything, from the way people drive to the biggest decisions we face.  The world is constantly caught up in conflict, each of us trying to claw our way to the top.

  God's goodness, however, isn't limited, so we don't have to be in conflict with one another.  There is abundance in God's goodness.  We can stop chasing whatever false gods we're pursuing, and we can stop measuring ourselves against one another.  There is enough.  Rest.  Let your soul breathe deeply in the goodness of God, and trust in God's abundant goodness.

  Do you remember when the prophet Elijah was running for his life into the wilderness, and God made him sleep?  I think God probably wants to do that with most of us.  We need to find some ways to stop our frenetic activity and simply lean into God.

Psalm 31:14-18

Psalm 31:14-18 

English Standard Version

  In the midst of peril, I love how the Psalmist is focused on the steadfast love of the Lord.  It's easy to try and figure out what we have to do to be saved.  It's much harder to remember that the character of God is that God wants to save us.  God chose to come and save us in Christ.  God opts to deliver us.  When we cry to God for salvation, we're simply crying out for God to do what is consistent with who God is -- God is a mission God, reaching out into the world to save God's beloved.  

  Thanks be to God that we worship a God of kindness and grace, and may that knowledge sustain us through hard times.

Psalm 31:11-13

Psalm 31:11-13 

English Standard Version 

  Suffering isolates.  The world can become very small when we suffer -- whether others intentionally avoid us or if they simply move on with life while we are stuck in one place.  It's often hard for others to understand our suffering, and so they simply go about their life while we are in a different place.  What a gift the mission and ministry of the church can be to those who suffer.  Deacons and caregivers are often willing to enter into another's suffering, to sit with them in the hard times, to wait in the terrifying ambiguity of medical uncertainty, or to weep in times of crushing heartbreak.  There may not be any answers, but there can be another person walking the journey with you, reminding you that you are not alone, pointing to the ultimate reality that God is with you, even in the midst of suffering and pain.

Psalm 31:9-10

Psalm 31:9-10 

English Standard Version 

  The Psalmist shows us faithfulness -- in the midst of sorrow, he continues to pray to God.  He asks for God's graciousness in turbulent times, buffeted by storms from every angle.  The Psalmist's strength is failing, his bones are wasting away, and whatever energy he has, he directs it towards a plea to God.  That is his only hope at this point.

  We learn how to pray in the midst of this, but we also learn that there's a Biblical role model for hardship.  The Psalmist is having a time of it.  How about Peter after he realizes that he has denied knowing Jesus?  Or Stephen when he was being martyred?  Imagine you're Isaac, set on an altar by Abraham?  Or David in the field, standing before Goliath.

  The Bible is filled with people who are in despair -- the prophets know this place well.  It doesn't mean that you're far from God -- it simply means that you are moving through a chapter, part of life, and to continue to hold onto hope in God.

Psalm 31:6-8

Psalm 31:6-8

English Standard Version 

  John Calvin called the human heart a factory of idols -- we cannot help but continuously come up with various things to worship.  As the Psalmist says, most of these are worthless, but they seem so valuable.  

  The Psalmist turns his back on these.  Maybe he's tried enough alternatives to realize they are worthless, or maybe he's wise from the start.  Either way, he is choosing to trust in the Lord.  The Lord's steadfast love abides through the valleys, even in the midst of an enemy.  Even in the face of the soul's distress, the Psalmist trusts in the steadfast love of the Lord.  

  When your soul feels distressed, remember the steadfast love of the Lord.  I think of Noah, stranded in that Ark, uncertain of the fate of the world.  I think of Gideon, watching his army shrink, uncertain as to what the outcome of a battle might be.  I think of Esther, walking in to the King, uncertain as to what his response might be.  Imagine Daniel's thoughts as he descends into the den of the lions.  

  The Bible shows us that people like us have fear like ours, and they have trust, as well.  We don't have to be perfect, but if we continue to focus on the love and light of God, we can walk through whatever valleys we face.

Psalm 31:3-5

Psalm 31:3-5

English Standard Version 

  We cannot redeem ourselves.  The Old Testament is one long example of humans failing to live up to God's expectations of us.  If we're honest with ourselves, we've all fallen short of even our own expectations.  How many times have you looked back and wished you'd done things differently?  How many times do you deal with remorse or regret?  

  God is our redeemer, and so we are wise to commit ourselves to God.  It is for God's glory -- which is eternal and transcendent.  So much of modern life is caught up in trying to create our own glory.  When we pursue God's glory, we join with something that lasts longer than temporary worldly glory.  It's hard to discern the difference, because we're so focused on the here and now.  This is why Sabbath matters -- it's a weekly opportunity to disconnect and take perspective, where we lift our heads from the temporary treadmills that we run on all week.  In opting for sabbath, we recognize that what is eternal is what matters, and we reset our expectations of refuge.

Psalm 31:1-2

Psalm 31:1-2 

English Standard Version 

  What do you think of as a refuge?  When I play golf, I always see thunderstorm shelters scattered around the course.  I'm grateful that they're present, but I always hope that I don't need to use one.  In a big enough storm, however, it'd be crucial to find one to be safe.

  What is a refuge for you?  Are you counting on money or family or prestige to deliver you in the midst of a storm?  They'll certainly be helpful, but for certain storms, there is no worldly resource that can deliver you.  For some of the storms we'll face in this world, we need something or someone from outside of this world to deliver us.

  Fortunately, Christianity tells us that God does come from outside of this world to deliver us.  We are saved by something bigger than our problems.  God is the only refuge that can endure to the end, so let us ensure that God is our fortress.

Acts 1:15-20

Acts 1:15-20 

English Standard Version 

  How many people do you think that you could take in on a confidence scam?  Maybe 5 or 10?  The New Testament is great at reminding us that the scope of the early community of believers was well beyond a handful of people.  Here, we have 120 people gathered together who have been witnesses of all that has gone on after the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Luke undertook thorough research for writing both Luke and Acts, and he probably talked to a number of these people.  This wasn't 2 or 3 people coming together to contrive a plot -- this was a diverse large group of people who had witnessed something amazing and were standing on the precipice of history.  There was tremendous risk for all of them, but they had seen the remarkable, the unbelievable, and they were all in on the next step of the community of faith.  

  We are a part of their legacy, and I give thanks for the robust research Luke did to write this book, and for the risk these men and women were willing to take for their faith.  How shall we treasure that legacy and continue to spread it?

Acts 1:12-14

Acts 1:12-14 
English Standard Version 

  One of the things that I love about Acts is everything is soaked in prayer.  I love the action stories, but it shows us how critical the disciples took prayer, because they stop and they pray together.  

  Do we do that?  We love to jump into action... but what if we stopped to pray together first?  How would that change our actions?  How would that change us?  I'd like to be that kind of person -- so rooted in prayer, so hungry for God's guidance, that before acting, I pray, and I seek out a community to pray with me.