Our pastor, Andy Stanley, has been doing a great series entitled White Flag. He is using the story of Jonah to show us how we run from God and the results of running. The main idea of the series is that we can run from God but we can not outrun God. It has been a very thought provoking series.
God had asked Jonah to go to Nineveh and preach to all the wicked people there. Jonah, however did not agree with God’s plan so he decided to run away. He thought he could outrun God. He tried to run as far away from Nineveh as possible. He embarked on a journey to Tarshish. Many of us know the rest of the story. God causes a violent storm. Jonah is thrown overboard and into the ocean. He is swallowed by a big fish. In the big fish he prays to God and asks for forgiveness.
Andy shares a great thought about what happened next, God is generous with his grace and thorough with his discipline, not to get us back but to bring us back. What a comforting thought. Just as we discipline our children, God is thorough with his discipline with us. He loves us so much that he does not try to get us back for our rebellion but he wants to bring us back to Him.
The great news is that no matter how long we have been running He will always be waiting for us with open arms. God’s love is greater than anything we can imagine. If we come back to God, He is gracious enough to embrace us not matter what. Are you running from God? It’s time to stop running and let God bring you back to Him. He is generous with His grace and will embrace our return.
Wow. It's Quiet Here...
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