Been thinking about Jonah today. Yep, I am preaching Jonah this coming Sunday and as I think about his life, I am struck with how Jonah gets a bad rap most of the time. He is usually seen as the prophet who tried to run from God and eventually did what God wanted him to do out of coercion (think big fish). That may be true, but I wonder if his stubbornness is just human nature. Let’s be honest, would YOU want to go somewhere you HATE to share God’s love???  Anybody want to go to a terrorist camp and tell them about God’s grace? Anybody want to walk through the prison ward of child abusers and offer them a second chance? And who here wants to give a second chance too…….

Offering grace is hard.

I think that was Jonah’s problem. He believed in offering Grace, it was the particulars that he had trouble with. Don’t we all? What Jonah learned, through his experience, is that ultimately we are not the ones who get to decide who God wants to transform. Quite frankly, God rarely asks for our thoughts on the matter and never asks for our permission. But he does ask one thing. He asks that we help Him reach those whom we don’t even care to talk too.

We don’t have to understand it.

We don’t have to even like it.

But we better be available when God picks us as his instrument.  (again, think big fish)

Offering Grace is a hard thing to do sometimes. But maybe remembering that His grace was offered to us too helps put that in perspective. In fact, God maybe trying to change you, not just the people you are supposed to be talking too.

So, where is God calling you to share His good news? Here’s a hint: if it doesn’t make you uncomfortable or if it doesn’t mean stretching your faith,  then keep looking.