Your Story Is Part of a Greater Story
Text: _The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: “Go to that great city of Nineveh and reach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”_ (Jonah 1:1, 2)
Jonah was not the ideal missionary. He was disobedient, quite defiant, selfish and prejudiced. It took a storm and a big fish to get him where he was supposed to go. And it took a leafy plant and a scorching wind to get his heart in the right place. Jonah was the opposite of what we think a missionary should be. And yet, despite all that, his mission in Nineveh was effective. The people who heard his message repented. The Old Testament is silent about what happened to Jonah after Nineveh. But centuries later, Jesus mentions his name and talks about ‘the sign of Jonah’. And now, almost three thousand years later, we read his story in the Bible from a book with his name as its title. We only know Jonah from the four chapters written in his book. But God knew everything about him — his past, his thoughts, his heart, his struggles, his whole life. Jonah had no idea that his story would continue to be told hundreds of centuries after his death. He didn’t know that God would still use him — his story — to be a source of revelation and lessons for many generations and nations.
Our stories have different versions depending on who tells it. But God knows our real story — complete with background story — from beginning to the end. When we are fully devoted to Him, He takes our stories (good and bad parts included) and makes them a part of the greater story that He is weaving; a story of His plan of redemption for the nations… a story that spans generations, includes every nation and involves every person whose life is surrendered to Him. If God can use Jonah who was disobedient, He can use you even more as you remain obedient to Him. Why should YOU be involved in missions? Because God can use your story. It can be a beautiful part of a greater story — HIS Story among the nations. If others were to write the story of your life, what will they tell? What might be God’s version of your life story right now?
Prayer:
Lord God, thank You because You know the true and full story of my life. Thank You for saving me and changing my destiny. Jesus, I want my story to count for eternity. I humbly surrender my life to You. Use me for Your glory, in Jesus’ Name.
Text: _The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: “Go to that great city of Nineveh and reach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”_ (Jonah 1:1, 2)
Jonah was not the ideal missionary. He was disobedient, quite defiant, selfish and prejudiced. It took a storm and a big fish to get him where he was supposed to go. And it took a leafy plant and a scorching wind to get his heart in the right place. Jonah was the opposite of what we think a missionary should be. And yet, despite all that, his mission in Nineveh was effective. The people who heard his message repented. The Old Testament is silent about what happened to Jonah after Nineveh. But centuries later, Jesus mentions his name and talks about ‘the sign of Jonah’. And now, almost three thousand years later, we read his story in the Bible from a book with his name as its title. We only know Jonah from the four chapters written in his book. But God knew everything about him — his past, his thoughts, his heart, his struggles, his whole life. Jonah had no idea that his story would continue to be told hundreds of centuries after his death. He didn’t know that God would still use him — his story — to be a source of revelation and lessons for many generations and nations.
Our stories have different versions depending on who tells it. But God knows our real story — complete with background story — from beginning to the end. When we are fully devoted to Him, He takes our stories (good and bad parts included) and makes them a part of the greater story that He is weaving; a story of His plan of redemption for the nations… a story that spans generations, includes every nation and involves every person whose life is surrendered to Him. If God can use Jonah who was disobedient, He can use you even more as you remain obedient to Him. Why should YOU be involved in missions? Because God can use your story. It can be a beautiful part of a greater story — HIS Story among the nations. If others were to write the story of your life, what will they tell? What might be God’s version of your life story right now?
Prayer:
Lord God, thank You because You know the true and full story of my life. Thank You for saving me and changing my destiny. Jesus, I want my story to count for eternity. I humbly surrender my life to You. Use me for Your glory, in Jesus’ Name.
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