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Today is Thursday September 24, 2009 and we are studying the book of Jonah, please the book of Jonah

in your Bible or Click Here to read them. http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-september-24

Today's Message: Price of Backsliding
The price of backsliding is way too costly for the temporary value received, but doing the will of God brings eternal rewards.

The book of Jonah is the thirty-second book of the Old Testament/Bible and contains four chapters. The author of the book is Jonah and it was written to the nation of Nineveh. The purpose of the book was to to warn them of the consequences of their disobedience to God and to document for Israel and all nations that salvation was not for the Jews only. What we are to learn from the book is that Salvation is not restricted by race, culture, or other barriers, for whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Jonah was a native of Galilee, God commanded him to go the Nineveh to warn them of their destruction if they did not repent and turn to Him. However, Jonah believed Nineveh was a threat to Israel and deserved to be destroyed so he ignored God's command and took off on a ship, trying to run away from Him. “Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. 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.” - Jonah 1:1-3. Jonah was probably delighted with the good news that the judgment of God would soon fall upon Nineveh. He could not believe that the mercy and love of God would extend even to Israel's enemies. He must have felt fortunate when, on the very day he arrived in Joppa, he discovered a ship sailing to Tarshish, the most remote of the Phoenician trading places, and in the opposite direction from Nineveh.

Jonah thought he was leaving his troubles behind, so he went to sleep, suddenly a raging storm began, “But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken. Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep. So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not...........And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you. Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them. Wherefore they cried unto the LORD, and said, We beseech thee, O LORD, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O LORD, hast done as it pleased thee. So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging. Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows. Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.” - Jonah 1:4-6,12-17. Jonah was so selfish that he would rather die and let thousands of other people die instead of follow God's command. To make him understand God allowed him to be swallowed up by a big fish.

Jonah was alive in the fish for three days and nights, to nature this was impossible, but to the God of nature all things are possible. After three days of soul searching, a repentant Jonah was vomited onto dry land by the great fish. He then became the greatest evangelist of his day, and saw the entire city of Nineveh repent of its wickedness. God could have chosen another prophet and let Jonah sink to the bottom of the sea, but God was merciful, demonstrating His love toward both the prophet and the repentant people in Nineveh. The willingness of God to forgive even the greatest of sinners who repent was made known when Nineveh's king and his people repented and were spared from the destruction prophesied by Jonah. Jesus confirmed the historic truth concerning Jonah when He proclaimed, “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.”- Matthew 12:40,41. Jesus used this historical event as an illustration to tell of His death, burial, and resurrection when the Pharisees demanded a sign from Him to prove who He was.

Jonah's plan gave him an opportunity to escape, but favorable circumstances when ignoring the will of God never lead to a successful end for any one. We are often more diligent in working toward our ruin than in seeking to do the will of God. Jonah paid the fare like many who spend their money and effort on selfish projects while disregarding the Lord's tithe and the Lord's Church. However, Jonah soon discovered that ignoring the Word of God is always expensive and eventually a big disappointment that cannot be avoided. All backsliders eventually pay the full fare in bitter experience, but God and His mercy always gives them a chance to repent. God's willingness to forgive the greatest of sinners when they repent was made known when Nineveh's king and its people repented and were spared from destruction. Jonah discovered that God's love was not limited to Israel, but open to everyone. No matter who we are or where we have come from God saves all, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” - Romans 10:13.

Today's Prayer:

Dear God,
Lord, we are confident in the transforming work You carried out when You forgave us of our sins. You turned our lives around so that we no longer live for ourselves, but for the One who created us. We thank You for our salvation that began the moment we surrendered to You. We anticipate the glorious day that our salvation will be brought to completion on the day of Christ’s return. Until that transforming day keep us faithful and trusting as our spiritual life is rooted and established in Your divine wisdom.  We want to be obedient to Your commands, as revealed in Your Holy Word, and apply them to our lives.  In Jesus' Name.........Amen.

Have a wonderful and blessed day/night and enjoy the rest of your week.
God Bless You,
Christina

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