Jon 1
1 Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,
2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.
3 But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.
Are you better than Jonah? Are there people you would never witness to because you are fine with then going to Hell? Will God have to give you a whale ride to get you to "...go into the world and preach the gospel to EVERY creature?" (Mark 16:15)
Ironically, Jonah means dove, but he did not want to be the dove of peace to people of war. He was sent like the Holy Spirit to preach judgment and then peace when they turned to God. He liked the judgment part well enough, but not the peace part.
In the middle of the storm caused by his rebellion;
Jonah slept while the heathen prayed.
Heathen spoke to Jonah about God and was concerned about their souls. Jonah didn't speak and didn't care about their souls.
Heathen tried to save Jonah rather than him trying to save them.
There is no place for prejudice and hatred in the Body of Christ. All humans are created in the image of God and He died for them to bring them back home.
Do not be like Jonah and go kicking and screaming and then be bitter if Jesus saves someone you don't like. Be thankful, He was willing to save you when there was nothing in you to merit His love.
All men are my temporal brothers through Creation and some are my eternal brothers through the New Birth. All of my temporal ones should have the chance to be my eternal brother.
Ask God to forgive your hard heart and foolish prejudice then seek out they whom you would not seek and show them the love of Christ!
Shalom! Maranatha!!!
