Reluctant Prophet

Nineveh, wicked though it had become, was not wholly given over to evil. He who “beholdeth all the sons of men” (Psalm 33:13) … perceived in that city many who were reaching out after something better and higher…. God revealed Himself to them in an unmistakable manner, to lead them, if possible, to repentance.

The instrument chosen for this work was the prophet Jonah…. Had the prophet obeyed unquestioningly, he would have been spared many bitter experiences, and would have been blessed abundantly. Yet in the hour of Jonah’s despair the Lord did not desert him. Through a series of trials and strange providences, the prophet’s confidence in God and in His infinite power to save was to be revived….

Once more the servant of God was commissioned to warn Nineveh…. As Jonah entered the city, he began at once to “cry against” it the message, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.” From street to street he went, sounding the note of warning.

The message was not in vain. The cry that rang through the streets of the godless city was passed from lip to lip until all the inhabitants had heard the startling announcement. The Spirit of God pressed the message home to every heart and caused multitudes to tremble because of their sins and to repent in deep humiliation…. Their doom was averted, the God of Israel was exalted and honored throughout the heathen world, and His law was revered. Not until many years later was Nineveh to fall a prey to the surrounding nations through forgetfulness of God and through boastful pride….

The lesson is for God’s messengers today, when the cities of the nations are as verily in need of a knowledge of the attributes and purposes of the true God as were the Ninevites of old…. The only city that will endure is the city whose builder and maker is God…. The Lord Jesus is calling upon men to strive with sanctified ambition to secure the immortal inheritance.
Conflict and Courage p. 230
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Prayer Requests
—–Please pray for my mother’s visa interview. Sam
—–update— Buddy has been in the hospital for about a week and has now received 8 units of blood. They do not seem to be able to find and stop the loss of blood. His case is complicated by the situation that he had a stent done recently in his heart vessel and has to be on blood thinners. I ask you to lift him up before the great physician and to also pray for wisdom for the Doctors and nurses that are attending him. He would really appreciate your help and I do to. Donna
—–Please pray for Tom’s family and friends during this time of loss. Rose
—–My mom is very sick with pneumonia. She’s been sick over 3 weeks and told me tonight that she’s never been sicker in her life. Please pray for her. Update on my daughter: she is slowly improving. Thank you so much for your prayers. Rachelle
—–I met a young man named Raphael at the park today. I asked that you would pray for him as he no longer believes in Christ or the Holy Spirit. He used to be Christian but no longer believes in Christianity. Pray that my words left an impression on his mind. John
—–Please pray for me and my children for peace and strength! D
—–Please pray for me. Tomorrow, Tuesday, I go into surgery. The doctors will remove the tumor, stage 4 B-cell lymphoma, from my left knee and femor. They have to replace a good portion of my femor along with my knee. Barbara
—–Torticollus is winning the battle today, the pain is excruciating please continue to pray. Danette
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Dear Friends,
One day, our third grade music teacher announced that in a few months there would be a music festival where all of the grade schools in Kalamazoo would come together in a large auditorium to make one huge choir. From that day, she began to prepare us for the event. Day after day, we learned the songs that we would sing. Day after day, we practiced until we knew the music well.

When it was nearly time for the festival, the superintendent of music for all the schools in Kalamazoo came to our school to practice with us. Each class in my school assembled together to practice the music we had learned. Our class was near the front. The superintendent walked in and was introduced to us. He was an older stocky, man with gray, thinning hair and glasses. He did not look special in any way, but when he began to speak to us, I instantly liked him. He had a way with children. He knew just what to say to keep their interest.

He explained just how he would lead the music on the day of the festival. He told us to watch his hands. He showed us how he would control the different parts of the music just by the way he moved his hands. I was fascinated. I watched him intently as he nodded to the music teacher to begin to play. As all the classes began to sing together, the assembly hall was filled with beautiful music. Each part blended into one perfect whole.

So it is with our spiritual life. We have a Great Superintendent Who desires that we look always to Him. He asks us to keep our eyes on His Nail-Scarred Hands as He leads us through life. If we do, we will become part of the harmonious Kingdom above. He says, “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.” Isa 45:22

As we intently study our Master’s life, we will see His will for our life. “Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again, when he suffered, he threatened not, but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” 1 Peter 2:21-24 Micah tells us, “He hath showed thee, O man, what is good, and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” Micah 6:8 Paul urges us, “let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Heb 12:1,2

Let us follow Jesus with our whole heart, walking as He walked. <1 John 2:6> Let us daily accept our Great Superintendent’s promise, “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” Eze 36:26,27 Let us each day “walk in all [God’s] ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all [our] heart and with all [our] soul” is my prayer. Josh 22:5

Rose