UNCOMMEN: 180 Degrees of ChangeSample

Jonah

We are looking into the lives of some Bible characters who had to do a 180 to come back to God. We've all been there, and I want to tell you not to worry; we are in good company. I've picked seven stories to help us understand that no matter where you are in your faith, it's not too late to turn (180 Degrees) to God.

We've been reading about Jonah from when you and I were kids up until we have kids of our own. We focus on Jonah disobeying God and being chastised by spending three days in the belly of a big fish. We tend to gloss over the fact that Jonah ran because he didn't want God to show compassion to the city of Nineveh. 

That is a downright horrible way to think. 

But there are many Christians who would probably fall in the same mindset (including myself at times). I'm sure there are people we could rattle off who we believe do not deserve God's mercy (Hitler, Ted Bundy, Charles Manson, Stalin, all the Nazis, and many more).

The 180

None of us deserved God's mercy and forgiveness of our sins, but thankfully He gave it nonetheless. Imagine if the person who leads you to Christ told God he didn't want to because you didn't deserve God's forgiveness. 

As Jonah found out, it's not our right to determine who should hear the Gospel and who shouldn't. The Gospel is for everyone, and I don't think any of us want to be chastised by God for not obeying the call to tell someone about Jesus. None of us deserve it, but Praise God it was given to us.
 

John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Uncommen Questions:

Have you ever thought that someone didn't deserve to hear the Gospel of Jesus based on their past?

Have you ever run away from God's direction only to be brought back to that same spot by God?

Uncommen Challenge:

I challenge you and me to always put ourselves in the position of those in need of hearing the Gospel. At one time, we were dead in our sins, and someone loved us enough to tell us about Jesus. Oh, what a glorious day that was! 

Scripture References:
Jonah 1-4