Pilgrims And ForeignersSample

Jonah – Preaching to a foreign nation (Jonah 1 y 3)

The book of Jonah is surprising; counteracting the sinful trait of nationalism of the chosen people and manifesting the otherworldly aspect of his grace. The glorious nation’s beacon remains quite badly idle. The negative traits of nationalism are very tenacious; “Act for the benefit of the cruel enemies of my chosen people?” “Never!” Let’s not throw stones at the anti-hero Jonah. How much time do you spend per year praying for other nations and yours? Jonah with zero compassion: let the enemies die, Israel will be more secure. Let’s not throw stones at Jonah; for example, the sudden massive arrival of immigrants at the frontiers of Europe involves certain risks. But don’t we see that God permits these things so that we pray and help so many uprooted needy people that could see His love and His grace? Amen to the welcome offered by some of His children. 

Jonah is in prayer and runs away. The true heroes of the book are pagans (seamen and Ninevites) and they pray a lot (look what a lesson they give us!) and God listens to them. Jonah will pray of course, but in chapter 2 and to thank God for his grace towards him (not towards the foreign enemies of his people) and in chapter 4 to complain about the grace of God towards the enemies. 

The great commission commits all its followers to praying, evangelising and making disciples of all the nations. We can’t all go but all can and should pray.

“Pray, evangelise, why? They aren’t going to pay attention to me!” But God calls people that have it difficult because of their context (disabled, prisoners of Islam). He even moves their conscience with a message in which only the bad news is highlighted. Did Jonah pray? Not at all, he sat in the shade under his bush “to see what would happen in the city.” In order to then say: “I said it Lord, I knew it, they don’t pay attention, do you see it?”

It was difficult to go to Syria to preach to them, so He sends the Syrians to our house! Like our Lord, let’s transform ourselves into anti-Jonahs and let’s show the love of God by our actions and prayers.

Olivier Py

Motives of gratitude: 

· We thank God for his sovereignty

· We thank God for his work and because he counts on us in spite of how we are and think 

Confession:

· We ask your forgiveness, dear God, for so many times we walked in the opposite direction to your will 

· We want to repent for our ideas and wrong notions about foreigners. Help us love foreigners and share with them everything, from the most valuable thing we have (You) to the smallest and most mundane things.

Requests: 

· For our nation and its salvation 

· May we be willing to help and intercede for other nations that need assistance, and that these signs of love and grace towards them reflect Christ.

· May we fulfil the great commission to pray, evangelize and make disciples in all nations