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Jonah

Solitude | Matthew 5:21-22

“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

Matthew 5:21-22

Anger is an overwhelming emotion. It often feels like anger has a mind of its own doesn’t it? When it comes upon us we lose some of our control. Interestingly, anger most often is birthed from a fear of losing control. In Jonah 4 we see Jonah getting angry at God. Anger happens to us doesn’t it? The issue is, scripture warns us against anger over and over again. God seems to know that this particular emotion has very dangerous consequences. So what do we do about it? Today, rather than unpacking Jonah or Matthew, I want to focus on some practical tools to address our anger.

Under the emotion of anger there is almost always a deeper emotion. For many of us anger is the mask that fear, anxiety, and shame wears. Anger is a person’s attempt to protect themselves from something. Knowing the underlying emotion is extremely powerful in helping defuse anger and guiding us into healthier ways of handling our emotions.

I feel like the blind leading the blind on this subject because I am not good at this. I have a counselor who has suggested that my body will help me uncover my underlying fear better then my mind. Although I am new at this, I believe it can be helpful for all to learn.

Today, pay attention to your body. Especially in situations that cause you to be frustrated or angry. Is there a tightening in your stomach? Does your face feel like it is heating up? How does your body feel when you are angry? Once you note those bodily sensations, spend some time figuring out what the underlying emotion is. I am told that the body is a faster predictor of our true feelings than the mind is. If you can learn the body sensations and label them in times of concentration you will later be able to identify and defuse those issues before your mind even catches up. Anger is toxic to the soul, so let us become students of our bodies so that we can battle it’s clutch on us. As you leave this reading take a moment to pray a prayer like this:

Lord, help me to pay attention to my own body today as I begin to uncover the source of my anger. As I learn, teach me to trust you with my fears and to relinquish control. Teach me to live in your way with your heart.

By Aaron Bjorklund

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Solitude | Matthew 5:21-222019-07-22T16:35:18-06:00

Self-Reflection/Confession | Joel 2:12-14

“Yet even now,” declares the Lord,

   “return to me with all your heart,

with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;

and rend your hearts and not your garments.”

Return to the Lord your God,

   for he is gracious and merciful,

slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;

   and he relents over disaster.

Who knows whether he will not turn and relent,

   and leave a blessing behind him,

a grain offering and a drink offering

   for the Lord your God?

Joel 2:12-14

We’ve all had moments when we became angry. A lot has been said about driving lately, but many things can push us towards this emotion. At work, we might experience something that isn’t justified, and we get angry. At home one of our children or our spouse might say something that, while true, hurts and causes anger. Or, perhaps a friend misses a get-together with us, and we’re angry. Perhaps this has happened between you and God. You wanted something to go one way, and it went a different way, and anger at God was the result.

While our anger may seem justified, what does it hide? This emotion can really put the blinders on us, and cause us to miss out on something God’s planned for us. While we’re in this emotional condition, we might not see, hear, or otherwise experience something good for us. More than likely, we’ve all had this experience. It’s as if our anger closed our senses off to life and we became focused on its cause.

Perhaps today, consider staying a little longer in an attitude of prayer, reflecting on the times you’ve been angry in the last few days, and confessing them to Jesus. Throughout your time of confession, recite the Jesus Prayer: “Lord Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.” My hope for you is that this time will be uplifting and will give you freedom! Then, as you go through your day, and that feeling begins to come, focus on what we read in Philippians 4:8, and change your focus from anger to what’s given in the passage.

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. — Philippians 4:8 (Emphasis mine)

By Rich Obrecht

Self-Reflection/Confession | Joel 2:12-142022-03-07T09:47:00-07:00

Imaginative Exercise | Exodus 34:6-7

The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.” Exodus 34:6-7

Have you noticed there are certain times when the term LORD is in all caps in your Bible? Read through Exodus 34:6-7 again. “The LORD, the LORD” – it’s capitalized two times in a row. Why would the Bible do that? Sometimes when we write an angry email, we put it in all caps just to let the reader know we’re angry. Is that what’s going on in these cases? Is God angry?

No, it’s actually something far more significant and beautiful. When we read the word Lord, we view it as a title. The “Lord of the Manor” was someone who had control over the house. But when the scriptures capitalize LORD, they want us to know they are NOT referring to a title. The scholars who worked on the translation want us to know that they’re translating the word ‘Yahweh,’ which isn’t a title; it’s a name.

Which begs the question, why does God need a name? Isn’t ‘God’ good enough? There are a few reasons God needs a name. First, he’s personal. I don’t refer to my wife as “wife,” I call her “Kelly.” We have a relationship and calling her by her title just doesn’t quite feel right – it lacks intimacy and is impersonal. Secondly, in ancient times, the term ‘god’ (Elohim), was a generic term because there were innumerable Elohim. That’s why when God sends Moses to Pharaoh, he says, “Who should I say sent me?” Notice God doesn’t reply, “Tell him God (Elohim) sent you.” Why? Because Pharaoh’s follow up question would have been, “Which god?” So God says, “Tell him I AM (Yahweh) sent you.” God needs a name because there were other spiritual beings who also used the title ‘god.’

When Yahweh appeared to Moses and told him his name in Exodus 34:6-7, he goes one step further; he tells him what he is like. Yahweh gives Moses a brief but complete picture of his character. Yahweh is merciful and gracious, he’s loving and faithful, he’s forgiving and just. A God who was compassionate and slow to anger was a unique vision of God in the ancient world. The gods of Egypt were to be appeased, feared, and kept at an arm’s length. The best thing most ancient people could hope for from the gods was that they’d leave them alone. Yahweh was telling Moses that he was completely different – in the best of possible ways.

When Jesus steps onto the scene, he completely embodies everything Yahweh told Moses was true about his nature. Read through this passage again and meditate on the character traits again today. Try to get a picture of that God in your mind. Are there any ways that view of God conflicts with the picture of God in your mind?

As a side note, if you’re looking for a book on this subject, God Has a Name by John Mark Comer is excellent!

By Ryan Paulson

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Imaginative Exercise | Exodus 34:6-72019-07-22T16:35:18-06:00

Lectio Divina | Jonah 4:1-5

But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” And the Lord said, “Do you do well to be angry?” Jonah 4:1-4

Find a quiet space to read and reflect on God’s Word. Ask the Holy Spirit to empty your mind of all distractions and competing thoughts. After a few deep breaths in and out, prepare to read the passage out loud. As you read, notice any word or phrase that seems to be highlighted in your mind. Don’t overthink this; just observe what surfaces for you.

As you read the passage a second time, imagine the scene in your mind. Take on the perspective of either Jonah or God. What does this part of the story feel like? Use your five senses to picture it in specific detail.

As you read the passage a final time, recall the word or phrase that stuck out to you. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you insight as to why this was highlighted to you. Ask him to show you what action or attitude you could take today based on the impression you had from this passage. Close with a prayer of thanksgiving for God’s timeless Word which teaches us, reproves us and sharpens us.

By Ellen Rosenberger

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Lectio Divina | Jonah 4:1-52019-07-22T16:35:18-06:00

Pray Scripture | Ezekiel 36:24-28

For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God. Ezekiel 36:24-28

As you remember all you’ve learned from God, the life of Jonah, the sailors and the Ninevites, pray these words from Scripture. As God leads you, pray or meditate on these verses for yourself, someone else, the church, our city, our country, our world.

For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God. (Ezekiel 36:24-28)

At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. (Titus 3:3)

Lord we all have sinned, and fall short of your glory (Romans 3:23). Our hearts are prideful; our wills are stiff and bent in going our own direction. It grieves you to look upon our sin.

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. (Titus 3:4)

We deserve death, but Jesus took our sin upon himself. We no longer face the wrath of your judgement. For the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus. (Romans 6:23)

He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:5)

The Holy Spirit himself has interceded for us, opened our eyes to the truth, and changed our hearts. God demonstrated his love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone. (Titus 3:6)

That if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified. And it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. (Romans 10:9-10)

Reading the life of Jonah, the prophet, makes me see my sin and long for a better prophet. And that is Jesus who died and rose again after three days. I am a sinner and know my sin deserves to be punished. I believe Jesus Christ died for my sin and rose again from the grave. I want to turn from my sin and trust in him alone as my Savior. Thank you, Jesus, for your forgiveness and life eternal through faith.

By Donna Burns

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Pray Scripture | Ezekiel 36:24-282019-07-22T16:35:18-06:00

Worship | Jonah 3:1-10

Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.” Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very important city – a visit required three days. On the first day, Jonah started into the city. He proclaimed: “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned.” The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh. “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let any man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. Who knows? God may relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.” When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened. Jonah 3:1-10

Jonah obeyed God, traveled to Nineveh, proclaimed God’s message, and the people believed God. The citizens and king of Nineveh repented, they sat in sackcloth and ashes, they turned away from their evil ways, God had mercy on them and did not destroy their city. God had compassion on the Ninevites, and he offers forgiveness and compassion to us in the modern age as well.

Nicky Cruz was born in Puerto Rico into an abusive, violent, and godless home. By age 15, he was sent to live with a brother in New York City because his witchcraft-worshiping mom considered him the son of Satan. Nicky soon was the leader of the Mau Maus, an extremely violent gang in Brooklyn. His love of violence and hatred for all was well known to the police and authorities. A street preacher, David Wilkerson, sought him out specifically and told him about Jesus’ love for him. After several encounters Nicky repented of his violence, his sin, and became a preacher to street kids and gangs himself. For nearly 60 years he has had a fruitful ministry to thousands of violent, hateful, gang members and criminals because he heard the message that God loves him and believed. If you want to read more, David Wilkerson’s story is in the book, The Cross and the Switchblade, and Nicky Cruz’s story is in Run Baby Run.

Many people who lived in Puerto Rico and in New York City in the 1950’s would have considered Nicky Cruz to be beyond saving, and undeserving of God’s love. “But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and in faithfulness”(Ps 86:15). Jonah considered the Ninevites to be undeserving of God’s love. But God loves everyone, “…He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9).

Spend some time today thinking about God and his incredible compassion, his great mercy, and his incomparable love for everyone. Thank him, praise him, for his forgiveness of your sin, and his offer to forgive anyone who hears his message of love, repents of their evil ways, and believes in God.

By Grace Hunter

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Worship | Jonah 3:1-102019-07-22T16:35:19-06:00

Prayer Walking | Jonah 3:4b

Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” Jonah 3:4b

My mom loved to walk. When she was growing up, she’d walk with her brothers everywhere. School, town, shopping, everywhere was another walk. This carried right up into her seventies. She’d walk around her neighborhood and pray. This was before prayer walking became what it is today. While she walked, she would be praying, recounting the names of family and friends and circumstances. She’d out-walk many younger folks, and I really believe this is what kept her so lively.

The city of Nineveh was a three-day walk across. It was either a city that predated our examples of urban sprawl, the people were slow walkers, or they had short legs. Jonah walked a day in to speak his message. Given what’s happened so far to Jonah, try imagining what Jonah was thinking and praying. He wasn’t excited to speak in Nineveh. Memories of his dislike of the Assyrians, the big storm, three days journey in the fish’s stomach, and the fish-puke experience were fresh on his mind, and I’m sure he still wasn’t ‘on-board’ with his task. If he was praying, perhaps recent memories influenced his prayers.

A three day walk in Colorado would take you to Glenwood Springs from Highlands Ranch! While that’s quite a distance, a lot of us walk just to be outside, to exercise and take enjoy the sunshine and fresh air. And, while we’re out and about walking, there’s always time for prayer!

Rather than the hike to Glenwood Springs, take a walk around your neighborhood, a park, or at your workplace. Get outside (hopefully, the sun is shining bright on you!), and pray for those you see and don’t see. Depending on where you’re walking, you may not recognize or know anyone. That’s not important. As you walk by homes, cars, and offices, pray for those who inhabit them. As you walk past people, pray for them. You have no idea what stories they live and the pain they’re experiencing. God sees them, knows all about them, and your lifting them up in love is a sign that you care and love them too. It’s really hard to pray good things for those around you, even those you have issues with, and not begin to love them. Perhaps what will happen to you is you’ll recognize the joy derived from praying for others and make this a habit. May God make it so.

By Rich Obrecht

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Prayer Walking | Jonah 3:4b2019-07-22T16:35:19-06:00

Solitude | Jonah 3:6-9

The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.” Jonah 3:6-9

re·pent
/rəˈpent/
verb
1. feel or express sincere regret or remorse about one’s wrongdoing or sin.
“the priest urged his listeners to repent”
2. view or think of (an action or omission) with deep regret or remorse.
“Marian came to repent her hasty judgment”

The king of Nineveh calls for his city to repent, pretty much including every living thing, after Jonah’s words reach him. How the message is conveyed from Jonah’s mouth to the king’s ears is not shared. The key point here is repentance, first by the king, then by the rest of the community. This is the king who was guilty of committing all manner of atrocities against conquered lands, including Israel and Judah. And the people shared in that guilt.

In our day-to-day lives, we may not be physically guilty of sin like the king and people of Nineveh. But we live in a time where the thought is as serious as the deed, and we’re held accountable for it (Matthew 5:21-22). I know when someone cuts me off in traffic, or moves in front of me in line, I may yield to the temptation to think ill of them. These things happen without any forethought. This ought not so to be. So, along with others, I’m in need of repentance.

While the place where Jonah 2 takes place, the fish stomach, may not be an ideal place of solitude, this is where Jonah was when he came to grips with the result of his actions. He called out to God and God heard him. Hallelujah!

Perhaps it’s time we find that place of solitude, and approach God in peace and quiet and begin to pray. The really nice thing about solitude for prayer is that we’re less distracted. It gives us the opportunity for God to prompt areas of our repentance. Ask God to reveal these areas, and then listen, just listen. Just like God wasn’t in the bright, loud, and shaking with Elijah, so, too, do we need to listen in the quiet for God’s voice. Like me, you’ll be amazed at what comes to mind, and blessed in the repentance.

By Rich Obrecht

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Solitude | Jonah 3:6-92019-07-22T16:35:19-06:00

Self-Reflection/Confession | Jonah 3:6-9

The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.” Jonah 3:6-9

Jonah’s mission is almost complete. He delivers his message and the Ninevites repent! But what is repentance? As the Ninevites show us in this passage, it is more than just saying you’re sorry. Repentance means to turn from sin. To truly repent, the Ninevites had to “turn from [their evil way and the violence that is in [their] hands” (v. 8).

In a story set in a time and place so distant from our own, it’s easy for us to separate ourselves from the Ninevites and decide the need for repentance was their problem, not ours. After all, they were the brutal, pagan people, not us. But God cares just as much about the state of our hearts as he cared about the Ninevites’. And sometimes that means we have to face the sin still in our hearts and turn from it.

Even if we have repented before, repenting again is no easy thing. If I admit that I need to repent I have to admit that I’m not perfect. I have to admit that I don’t love God or love others the way I’m called to. I have to admit that I’m so often like Jonah, obeying grudgingly and not really wanting to see God’s mercy poured out on others.

But remember that the Ninevites didn’t turn from sin just for the sake of doing so. They turned from sin, from their evil and violent ways, for the sake of life! And the same goes for each of us. We don’t repent for the sake of repenting, or because it’s the “Christian” thing to do, or even because that’s the theme of today’s Daily post. We repent because of the new life we have in Jesus Christ, and because he has so much more for us than the patterns we resort to or the second things we make first things.

In this season of Lent, journeying with Jesus towards the cross, remember why Jesus is going to the cross in the first place. Today, pray a prayer of repentance. Ask God to bring to mind anything specific that you may need to repent from and ask him to help you turn from those things. End your prayer with thanksgiving; thank Jesus for opening up a new way of life through his death and resurrection so that we are freed from our old ways.

By Jessica Rust

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Self-Reflection/Confession | Jonah 3:6-92019-07-22T16:35:19-06:00

Imaginative Exercise | Jonah 3:4-10

Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them. The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.” Jonah 3:4-10

And the people of Nineveh believed God. Yes, I know, I’ve heard it all my life, seen it on the flannel graphs and heard it in Sunday School. Just like the fish swallowed Jonah whole and spit him out after three days. That’s what’s supposed to happen in the story. My familiarity blinds me to the miracle of it all. The fish swallowing Jonah was an extraordinary thing! The wicked, pagan Ninevites humbling themselves before God and acting out their repentance was no less of an extraordinary thing!

We’re meant to be surprised by this incredible response of a godless people. How could they, first of all, believe God and then respond to him by turning from their wickedness in repentance? These people did whatever pleased them; they were known for their cruel violence and the last people we’d expect to yield to a holy God.

If you’ve grown up around the story of Jonah I challenge you to drink in the story in a whole new way. Pretend it’s the first time you are hearing of it. Close your eyes and imagine yourself as one of the Ninevites. Take yourself through their steps of repentance. Imagine what it must have been like for a whole city to decide together to take visible steps in seeking forgiveness from an unseen God. Now, call to mind anyone in your life you may have considered beyond God’s reach of forgiveness. Confess your hypocrisy and remind your heart of the relentless love and mercy of God available to all people.

By Ellen Rosenberger

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Imaginative Exercise | Jonah 3:4-102019-07-22T16:35:19-06:00
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