Oh Jonah! Angry because God shows mercy. Angry because the people of Ninevah actually listened to his prophecy and changed their ways. Angry because they then made his words of warning fall flat.
Jonah is angry because he feels God's grace and mercy make him look like a fool.
How often do we get angry because we think other people do not deserve God's grace? Because we think they are not worthy (like we are) of knowing God's blessings....they haven't worked hard enough or prayed long enough or scraped low enough to deserve it.
Grace is not about deserving. It's about love. Loving someone enough that you want, and work for, that person's benefit----regardless of their actions. Thank goodness God loves us like this. May the Holy Spirit empower us that we might love others in the same way!
Lord, infuse us with your grace so that we may flow from your love. ---Mechthild of Magdeburg
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