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Text: Jonah 3:1-4
The grace pendulum can swing both ways, and in my life I’ve touched the ceiling in each direction. I’m referring, of course, to my response to God’s grace. He is unchanging, loving, merciful, just – and somehow all at once. I, however, am a little less, ahem, steady.
Many times I’ve tried my hardest to earn the un-earnable, to deserve the un-deservable. I’ve been intent on not just striving for God’s grace, but striving well, attaining what is in me to attain, knowing deep down (in that part of you that just knows) that it won’t be enough. And there I swung on that pendulum, so far in the direction of legalism-wrapped-in-pride that I could sweep the ceiling with my fingertips.
And then there are times I’ve tried my hardest to drink it in, striving in a different way. I’ve been hell-bent on being free, not understanding what that truly means. I’ve consumed grace in the same way I indulge my diet soda addiction — grabbing a swig whenever I need a lift, whenever I need to feel OK again. I’ve lived in false freedom and called it the liberty of grace, swinging high in the other direction to touch that same pride-ceiling on the other side.
It’s tough to find the balance, isn’t it?
Here is why I love these four verses in the middle of the book of Jonah: Jonah guzzles grace like he’s never been thirstier for it. But then, without missing a beat, he does something revolutionary. He obeys. And he obeys, it would seem, without hesitation. No calculating all the possible risks, no predicting all the possible reactions of all possible people, no wondering the least amount of obedience he could get away with in the given scenario. God says go, and Jonah went. He “arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord” (Jonah 3:2). And it was no quick trip, you guys.
I picture Jonah with a renewed determination in his eyes and a bolstered courage in his heart, making the three-day trek to deliver a message he knows may very well be ignored. I sense in him something that wasn’t there on the day he fled to Tarshish — the responsibility to obey.
Obedience is not a way to earn God’s grace.
Obedience is not a way to prove worthy of the grace we’ve already received.
But obedience is a responsibility we carry as children of the Lord.
We are commissioned by the Most High to carry His Word to the world — in small, everyday ways and big, go-to-Nineveh ways. Grace should not be the blanket under which we hide from our calling, but the buoy that lifts us to obedience.
“What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.”
(Romans 6:15-18)
Just like the sisters before me, I love the pendulum analogy – and it reminds me that it is just another trick of the enemy. Jesus never intends for us to swing back and forth, He is steady and begs us to stand on the Rock. The pendulum is the shifting sand and Jesus is the cornerstone of our foundation. His Grace is sufficient, and though I seek grace from my friends and family, His Grace is sufficient for me.
As one of our sisters put it, we all have a Nineveh. I add to that that we all have a Canaan – a promised land. We all started in the Garden, got called to Nineveh, some of us ran to Tarshish, but are all promised a Canaan. Just as the Israelites were never supposed to wander the desert for 40 years, I don't believe God's perfect plan was for Jonah to land in the belly of the fish. I pray that we all skip that rotten place; obey the Word of the Lord, head straight to Nineveh, and then on the promised land.
Wow. I definitely seek grace from my family and friends when I should be relying solely on His grace. Thank you for this insight into my ife, Janee!
Oh you are so welcome EssieJean. I'm so glad my words could bless you today.
Amen! Unfortunately I have been in the belly of the fish and I thank the Good Lord for pulling me out. But at the same time I thank him for my trials and tribulations for it has made me stronger. Shameful but yet strong if that makes any sense? Now I head towards my Nineveh to do his will. He gives me the strength to do things I can't do alone. I want to share to help bring others to Christ it doesn't matter where your at or where you've been he's a gracious and forgiving God. Thank you for sharing Janee
Sandra
Obedience is a responsibility we carry as children of the Lord. Love those words. Grace should not be the blanket under which we hide from our caling bt the buoy that lifts us to obedience. Amen. Have a blessed day everyone. Im blessed by these words, Glory be to God.
To my praying women:
I have an important prayer request on my heart today. I used to be a GAP group (mentoring/devotional) leader at my old Christian school, and one of the girls in my study group who is now 17 years old has been missing since March 22nd. The school came together at the flag pole early this morning to intercede on her behalf and she has been in my fervent prayers as well. Could I have some of your help in joining me in prayer for her and her family? I know they need peace and comfort at this time. Also praying for her safe return. I would really appreciate it. Love you ladies <3
I so relate to the pendulum analogy. And LOVED this, "Grace should not be the blanket under which we hide from our calling, but the buoy that lifts us to obedience." … Dwelling on that today.
My prayers are with her that she returns home safe & with her family for comfort and peace. Keep us posted.
Blessings….
Praying that the Lord's light will shine
I am picking up the storytelling of our Saviour again as the story continues … it was going to take him 3 days to deliver God’s message … 3 days that had caused him to turn and run before. 3 days in the tomb. And then they had 40 DAYS to repent. And here we sit smack dab in the middle of 40 days of Lent …and 40 days our Lord spent being tempted. And I think how Jesus said to his disciples the night he was arrested:(literally)”don’t you get it YET?” I know the countless times I’ve sat in church pews, prayed, studied … as I begin over and over and over again to”get it.” And I”arise” again in renewed humility, grace and awe.
Amen!
this really hit me. I too swing from one side to another, calling on God's grace when I feel desperate, then basking in it if I feel good, without realizing that I can't earn it. I don't have a sense of that freedom unless all is going well. As soon as things start to fall apart, so do I.
I need to focus on obedience, and if that is small, daily gestures that God puts in my way to accomplish, then I will do it without questioning. I keep thinking I need to hear his grand plan for me, and don't focus on my daily obedience to him.
Wow. This is great. So often, I definitely either let grace become false freedom or something to earn. Either way, satan gets me all in bondage over it. What I noticed in her analogy was that each side's ceiling was pride. How do we stay away from abusing grace? Staying humble and asking God, when we feel pride or entitlement or complacency cropping up, to change our hearts and to remind us of what we've been, to humble us. "So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days’ journey in breadth. Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” Lord, help me to receive your grace and to use it to do what you've been calling me to all along. Let it give me strength, like Jonah.
Blessings, sisters. xo
So many incredible insights into our faith in the book of Jonah that I had never taken the time to see before. And I was struck today by how yesterday's post tied into today's….just as forgiveness inspires repentance, grace inspires obedience. Why do we so often see those things as happening the other way around? Repentance does not inspire our God to forgive; the cross already did that. And obedience does not bring more grace; God is bigger than that. I think I often make God too small, perhaps so that He can fit into the realm of my understanding. But He cannot be contained, and He shows us that every day (ahem, #shebuildsapps!)! Praise Him!!!
"Just as forgiveness inspires repentance, grace inspires obedience." So perfect, so grace-filled, such a picture of God's loving-kindness.
How wonderful that today's devotion is about obedience … In the shower this morning an idea came to me, to do something I haven't done in a long time – to lead a Bible study for a group of girls, that are part of a larger group I volunteer with. My thought was to wait until the summertime, since everyone will likely have more time (as I'm a teacher), but now I'm not so sure. I DO know the study I want to do with them … the SRT Women in the Bible! It would be such a great focus for these young ladies. Please pray for me as I figure out the logistical side of it … and OBEY!
Praying for you now, Kat!