Jonah...

As I continue my on-going journey of reading through the Bible from front to back, my reading today brought me through Obadiah and Jonah... I've actually read the story of Jonah several times, but I'm always amazed at how the Holy Spirit can point out or highlight different aspects of Scripture despite having read it many times before... Today, as I read through the last chapter of Jonah, God impressed upon me again how...everything...everything...is about Him and His will and what He desires to accomplish... Jonah was so ready to watch God completely wipe out the people of Nineveh for their wickedness and sin... And, Jonah was so pleased when God provided the shade for him to sit there and watch it all happen... But, when the vine withered...and got ate up by a worm...and got blown over by the wind...Jonah was more worried about his comfort rather than God's heart for the people of that city... Over and over throughout God's Word, it talks about how loving God is...that He's slow to anger...and abundant in love...and that if we'd just turn from our evil ways and seek Him wholeheartedly and ask for forgiveness...that He's gracious and loves us enough to spare us what we deserve... And, God is so full of compassion that he heard the people of Nineveh crying out to Him, and He forgave them and spared the destruction of the city for many years...(much to Jonah's disappointment, I think...)

Lord, forgive me for the times when I get so wrapped up in "now" that I miss Your bigger picture... Forgive me for sometimes thinking of my comfort more than Your desires... Thank You, Lord, for Your unfailing love...and Your unending patience! Continue to help me see things through Your eyes...