Buddy looks like a giant Yorkie. He’s even oversized for a Silky terrier. But despite his larger breed style, he’s incapable of protecting himself; he’s totally dependent upon me for his needs.
The Old Testament prophet, Jonah, preached the lamest sermon ever. Most people, even if they’ve never read the Bible, have heard the story about Jonah and the Whale, about how he was swallowed and lived within the giant sea mammal for three days and nights.
However, most people don’t know that Jonah was swallowed by the whale because he disobeyed God and hopped a ship going into the opposite direction of the city of people God wanted him to preach to. After his horrendous incarceration, Jonah obeyed God and traveled to the Assyrian city of Nineveh to preach repentance.
Jonah hated the Ninevites and wanted God to kill them, not save them.
Although Jonah finally obeyed God, his attitude sucked. He preached the lamest sermon ever!
“And Jonah began to enter the city on his first day’s walk. Then he cried out and said, ‘Yet forty days, and Nineveh will be overthrown!’
“So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them…”—Jonah 3:4-5
The king made a decree that everyone was to fast, even their animals, and “turn from his evil way and the violence that is in his hands (vs 3:8).”
Because the people of Nineveh repented in faith, God relented and did not punish them.
My point is: Just as Buddy is totally dependent upon me, Christians are totally dependent upon the Almighty God and His power. We cannot change a person’s heart nor can we force anyone to believe in Jesus.
Because repentance doesn’t depend upon our charisma or powers of persuasion—or even how knowledgeable we are.
On the other hand, it doesn’t matter how weak or pitiful we think our testimony or words are.
Our responsibility is merely to obey and tell people about Jesus.
And the power of the Holy Spirit will do His work.
Cone on! You cannot preach a worse sermon than Jonah did!
And because God’s power was already working on the hearts of the people, they repented anyway.
God bless.
Thanks for reading.
Much love from Dawn and Buddy
PS. Please check out my latest Friday blog post if you have time. Thanks!
https://meditationsaboutgodandbuddy.wordpress.com/2024/04/06/whats-life-all-about-really/
Meditations About God and Buddy 