A Story
Another Day Along the Way
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Good stories present conflict before resolution. Suspense slides toward a conclusion, but not without surprises, mini-plots amid the master-plot, and - remember this one - feelings. Emotions rise among characters and, as a result, among readers of the novel or observers of the movie.
Some of history's best drama occurs in the Bible. Read it. Feel it. Learn the truth revealed by the stories. Today, let's pick one. How about this story: Jonah? A call from God, doubt, anger, confusion, and a whale's belly? An honest, emotional dialogue with a Holy God? Interesting.
Read the confusion and confession, the confrontation and compassion. Put yourself there. Where is your anger? Where have you seen God's compassion?
I've held a small shovel head shark. I've held a jellyfish. I love the ocean and I plan to travel on a mission trip this summer. But I don't do any fishing these days and I've never ventured into the belly of a whale. And I have disobeyed God. I've also had serious, honest conversations with God. Fortunately, God has a way of winning.
Read the book of Jonah. This one chapter should get you lured into reading the whole book.
Jonah 4, NIV
1 But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry. 2 He prayed to the LORD, "O LORD, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. 3 Now, O LORD, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live." 4 But the LORD replied, "Have you any right to be angry?" 5 Jonah went out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. 6 Then the LORD God provided a vine and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the vine. 7 But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the vine so that it withered. 8 When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah's head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, "It would be better for me to die than to live." 9 But God said to Jonah, "Do you have a right to be angry about the vine?" "I do," he said. "I am angry enough to die." 10 But the LORD said, "You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. 11 But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?"
Along the way,
Chris Maxwell
Prayer Surrendered: God, please empower me with the courage to obey You and with the endurance to complete Your assignment.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Good stories present conflict before resolution. Suspense slides toward a conclusion, but not without surprises, mini-plots amid the master-plot, and - remember this one - feelings. Emotions rise among characters and, as a result, among readers of the novel or observers of the movie.
Some of history's best drama occurs in the Bible. Read it. Feel it. Learn the truth revealed by the stories. Today, let's pick one. How about this story: Jonah? A call from God, doubt, anger, confusion, and a whale's belly? An honest, emotional dialogue with a Holy God? Interesting.
Read the confusion and confession, the confrontation and compassion. Put yourself there. Where is your anger? Where have you seen God's compassion?
I've held a small shovel head shark. I've held a jellyfish. I love the ocean and I plan to travel on a mission trip this summer. But I don't do any fishing these days and I've never ventured into the belly of a whale. And I have disobeyed God. I've also had serious, honest conversations with God. Fortunately, God has a way of winning.
Read the book of Jonah. This one chapter should get you lured into reading the whole book.
Jonah 4, NIV
1 But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry. 2 He prayed to the LORD, "O LORD, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. 3 Now, O LORD, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live." 4 But the LORD replied, "Have you any right to be angry?" 5 Jonah went out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. 6 Then the LORD God provided a vine and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the vine. 7 But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the vine so that it withered. 8 When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah's head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, "It would be better for me to die than to live." 9 But God said to Jonah, "Do you have a right to be angry about the vine?" "I do," he said. "I am angry enough to die." 10 But the LORD said, "You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. 11 But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?"
Along the way,
Chris Maxwell
Prayer Surrendered: God, please empower me with the courage to obey You and with the endurance to complete Your assignment.
