Inviting God / Week 7 – Jonah

Week 7 – Day 1: An Invitation to the Unlikely 

Read: Jonah 1:1-16 

 

This week’s focus is a little different. This week, we will walk through most of the book of Jonah. It’s a story many of us are familiar with. God calls Jonah to go to Nineveh and tell them to repent of their sins. He refuses and heads in the opposite direction. God intervenes by sending a storm to stop him. The sailors on the boat confront him, and Jonah tells them it’s his fault— that he’s been running from the one true God and suggests they throw him overboard. They hesitantly obey his request. Instead of drowning, God commands a great fish to swallow Jonah. He’s in the belly of that giant aquatic beast for three days (foreshadowing Jesus’ death and resurrection), and at some point, Jonah’s heart is changed. He cries out to the Lord in prayer (Jonah 2:1-9). Then God commands the fish to vomit Jonah out onto dry land. 

 

This week, we will unpack the story together and see what it has to do with God’s heart for people and his commission to us. I’m guessing you probably already see where we’re headed. But I hope you’ll humor me by doing the reading every day anyway.

And here’s our focus today – Jonah’s running from God’s mission. God has told him to go to Ninevah and to tell them to repent. Sound familiar? This is God’s call for us too. To go where He tells us to go and say what He tells us to say – to call others to repent and to return to Him. But notice what Jonah does when He hears God’s call. He runs from it. He flees. 

 

Verse 2, God says, “Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because their evil has come up before me.” And look at his response. Verse 3, “Jonah got up to flee to Tarshish from the Lord’s presence.” Instead of embracing God’s call to the mission of reconciliation – Jonah ran from it. 

 

And friend, I love you. But here’s the hard truth – many of us are guilty of the exact same thing. We know that God has called us to go and tell others about Him. That’s not a secret in Christianity. It’s part of the Great Commission, for crying out loud. Yet, most Christians don’t. Now, we have seen that as just a small omission. But I want you to understand today that it’s not. It’s just as blatant an act of disobedience as Jonah.   

 

Let me explain. God called Jonah to get up and go to Ninevah and preach that they should repent. God had called him to go to what could easily be seen as the center of sinfulness and to preach repentance, but instead, he got up and went to Tarshish. For many of us, that may not mean much, but in Biblical times, it was very clear what Jonah was doing. During his time, Tarshish was basically the furthest known place in the opposite direction of Ninevah. God told him to go to sinners and preach repentance, but instead, Jonah did the opposite.

And that’s why his story matters so much to us today. Because we are doing the same thing! Most Christians are disobeying the Great Commission’s call to evangelism and discipleship by only running back into Christian circles for discipleship. They are 100% ignoring the first part of God’s call in the Great Commission, which is to go to sinners and call them to repentance! Guys, what I’m saying is we are just as disobedient as Jonah!

And the news gets worse. Not only are we as disobedient as Jonah. We have become every bit as comfortable in our disobedience as Jonah was in his. Look at verses 5-7. Notice what Jonah was doing as the storm of judgment was raging around him. He was sleeping. Seriously. He was fast asleep. He was so comfortable in His disobedience that those around him were literally on the verge of perishing (to say nothing of the entire city of Ninevah that was doing the same).

And what I need you to see this week is this: we are doing the same thing. We’ve become so comfortable in our disobedience to God’s command to go and tell others about His coming judgment and His current offer of grace in His Son Jesus that we often sleep peacefully with little to no concern for those around us who are on the verge of perishing! What shame. What sin. What disobedience.  

 

We can’t continue to be that way. We shouldn’t be as comfortable as Jonah was with disobeying God’s command. So, here’s what I’m doing this week. I pray you’ll do the same. This week, I’m praying that we’ll see our lives and our lack of commitment to God’s calling for what it is – we’ve gone in the opposite direction of our purpose. We’ve surrounded ourselves with people who sound like us, believe what we believe, and vote for who we vote for. We’ve sought Christian community instead of reaching out to a lost and dying world. And guys, whether we like it or not, that is an act of disobedience. Discipleship is incredibly important. It’s huge! But it’s also comfortable – at least, what the American church has turned it into. True discipleship, however, never leads us into holy huddles. It never just encourages us to keep meeting with other believers. True discipleship always sends those believers out to reach people trapped in sin and requires that they lovingly share with those people about the coming judgment of God and the grace available through Christ Jesus.

My hope and prayer this week is that we will embrace that biblical picture of discipleship and God’s call to His mission of evangelism. Instead of running from His call, each of us will do our part. We will examine our lives, find new places to go, and be around others who are far from God, so we might share His light and love with them. By God’s grace, they might repent of their sins and become His children too.  

 

Prayer: Father, I see myself in Jonah’s story. It’s hard to accept, but I realize I am too much like Jonah. I often turn to Christian community instead of toward the lost you have told me to seek out. Give me your heart for people, Lord. Give me your eyes. Help me embrace this calling you’ve placed on my life to be your ambassador—your minister of reconciliation. Amen.  

 

Reflection:
1. When you think about Jonah running the opposite way, where are you tempted to “head toward Tarshish” instead of toward the people God has called you to? What excuses do you usually make when you do this? 

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2. Jonah was asleep while the sailors were on the verge of perishing. Have Christians today become so comfortable in our disobedience to God’s mission that we don’t even notice people around us who are perishing without Christ? Have you? If you truly open your eyes this week, who would you realize you’ve been ignoring?

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3. God’s invitation isn’t just for you to know Him, but to invite others into His grace. Who is one unlikely person God may be nudging you to reach out to right now? What is one step you can take today to move toward them instead of away?

(MULTILINE) 

Application:
Today, pray honestly about where you’ve been running from God’s call. Then take one simple step of obedience—maybe sending a text, inviting someone to coffee, or offering prayer—trusting that God will meet you as you move toward the people He has placed in your path. 

 

 

 

Week 7 – Day 2: Mercy in our Disobedience 

Read: Jonah 1:11–17; Jonah 2:1–2 

 

Listen, I know yesterday was tough. It’s hard when God’s Word reveals our true nature. Especially when it highlights our disobedience. But that’s exactly what the story of Jonah shows us. The hard truth is that we are all more like Jonah than we’d like to admit—that we often run away from the mission God has given us. And we’ve become so numb to it that, until recently, we’ve been sleeping pretty soundly while those around us are on the brink of destruction.

But, praise God – we can’t escape His plan and purpose. He cares for us too much to let us run away. And I truly believe He is waking us up to the reality around us. To our responsibility. To His mission. To the people near us who are in danger of sinking.  

 

Today, I want to share some good news with you. If you, like me and most of us, have been more like Jonah than like Jesus to those around you, there is hope. Because God is merciful, even in our disobedience. You might want to go back and reread that sentence, maybe even write it down. It’s a huge lesson that every Christian needs to understand: God is merciful, even in our disobedience. 

 

Whenever we disobey the Lord, it’s sin. Period. Sin is whenever we do something that doesn’t please God. It’s whenever we say something that doesn’t please God. It’s even whenever we think something that doesn’t please God. But sin is also when we don’t do something God has told us to do. So, when God told Jonah to go to Nineveh and preach repentance and he, instead, got on a boat headed the opposite direction, it was sin. The same is true for us. When we ignore the Great Commission and God’s call to seek and save the lost and make disciples, we are sinning. We are rebelling, just like Jonah. 

 

Now, all sin has consequences. It damages our relationship with God and others. What I’m saying is all sin causes storms of one kind or another. Jonah’s rebellion didn’t just affect him. It didn’t stay hidden. Sin never does. His disobedience put an entire ship full of people at risk. Ours might be putting an entire office at risk, an entire classroom, or an entire sports team. And like Jonah, there are very real consequences for our actions that we may not be aware of yet. The consequences of sin are sometimes immediate, sometimes delayed, but they are always real.

For Jonah, it meant being thrown overboard into the middle of a raging storm. For us, the consequences of sin may look very different, but they are just as destructive. I want you to notice what happens as Jonah faces the repercussions of his disobedience to God’s mission – he finds mercy. As the waves start to overwhelm him, I imagine him fighting for breath, and God’s mercy appears in the form of a giant fish.  

 

I have to admit, I hate the smell of fish. So when I think about Jonah staying in the belly of that fish for three days, my stomach churns just imagining how bad the odor must have been. But oh, that gloriously gross smell! Oh, the amazing darkness of that giant aquatic gullet! He was saved from drowning by being swallowed. I believe we can rightly say, God swallowed up death that day (and it wouldn’t be the last time).  

 

And here’s what I need you to see today (as you’ve been working through thoughts of your own disobedience to God’s mission). God is gracious! He’s forgiving. He loves you, and He longs to use you! You are His plan! God didn’t abandon Jonah to the waves, even though Jonah had tried his best to flee from God’s mission to call sinners to Himself. And God won’t abandon you either.

That’s what this whole journey has been about. It’s meant to be an awakening. An understanding of God’s clear call to us – to go to the lost and tell them about God. To be His messengers. It’s meant to reveal our disobedience to that call. But it’s also meant to reveal God’s mercy and grace and how He still saves us from our sin and gives us opportunities to be used for His glory.  

 

In Romans 2:4, the Apostle Paul writes, “Or do you despise the riches of his kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?” He’s actually speaking to the Jews at this point and highlighting how God has been so kind to reveal Himself to them. But the message is just as relevant for us. Consider Jonah. The fish was an act of mercy. So was the storm. God calling Jonah back to his purpose was an act of mercy as well. The same applies to us. And what should such mercy lead to? Repentance.  

 

It did for Jonah. I pray it does for you too. Take some time today to reflect on how patient God has been with you regarding His mission of seeking and saving the lost and making disciples. Think about what this mission cost Him personally, and remember that Jesus didn’t just die for us—he died for the world (John 3:16). 

 

Now, consider how the last few days have felt like the walls are “closing in” on our disobedience to God’s mission. That very act is an act of mercy and grace. How will you respond? Will you rejoice and repent like Jonah did? Will you cry out, “I will fulfill what I have vowed. Salvation belongs to the Lord,” and embrace God’s mission? 

 

Reflection:
1. Even though Jonah disobeyed, God invited him back into His plan by sending the fish instead of letting him drown. How does God’s mercy in Jonah’s disobedience remind you that His invitation to join His mission is still open, even when we fail? 

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2. From inside the fish, Jonah cried out and God heard him.
   Follow-up: What does this show about God’s invitation to come back to Him, no matter how far we’ve tried to run?

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3. 3. Paul says God’s kindness and patience are meant to lead us to repentance. How has God’s patient mercy been an invitation for you to turn back and join Him in His mission?

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Application Point
Respond to God’s mercy today by accepting His invitation to step back into His mission. Get back out there and intentionally invite someone this week into a conversation about faith or into taking the next step toward a relationship with God. 

 

Week 7 – Day 3: The Unlikely Respond 

Read: Jonah 3:1–10  

 

Yesterday, we learned that God is patient with us in our disobedience to His mission. Even though Jonah ran in the opposite direction from where God told him to go, God was patient with him. He didn’t give up on him. He pursued him and gave him another chance. The fish was a symbol of God’s mercy and grace for Jonah and for the people God was sending Jonah to—the people of Nineveh. After repenting of his disobedience and recommitting himself to God’s mission, God commanded the fish to spit Jonah out on the shore.  

 

There, He restored His servant by calling him back to the mission, “Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach the message that I tell you.” (Jonah 3:2). It was a second chance. It reminds me of how Jesus treated Peter after Peter’s denial. After His resurrection, Jesus sought out Peter on the shore and restored him by calling him back to the mission – feeding the sheep. And here’s my point. God does the same with us. That’s what this entire series is about. It’s an opportunity to be reminded of God’s mission. It’s meant to be an extension of God’s mercy and grace for His messengers.

And here’s the amazing thing – if we understand this, I believe we will see God move in a way similar to how He did in Nineveh. If we repent of our disobedience to His mission and return to it – seeking out those who are far from God and sharing the truth that He loves them. That He sent His one and only Son to earth to make a way for them to have a relationship with Him. If we invite them to turn to Him – I believe they will.  

 

And consider what a powerful testimony it will be. Nineveh was the capital of the Assyrian empire, infamous for cruelty and terror. Their reputation for torturing enemies spread fear throughout the region. They worshiped many false gods, and idol worship was linked with immorality. The city itself was large, fortified, and prosperous. These people were the least likely candidates for repentance—least likely to listen and heed God’s invitation. For these people to turn around, it would have to be an act of God. 

 

And that’s exactly what happened. A reluctant minister washed ashore. Even though Jonah had repented from his disobedience and promised to fulfill what God had asked, he never seemed to be truly committed. Seriously. Go back and reread Jonah’s message. In English, it’s 7 words – “In forty days Nineveh will be demolished!” (Jonah 3:4). It comes off as the bare minimum in obedience if you ask me, yet God used it powerfully. The entire nation repented of their sin and turned to God.  

 

Listen, maybe you’re not too thrilled about God calling you to the ministry of reconciliation. Maybe, like Moses, you’re not eloquent in speech. Guess what? It doesn’t matter. Jonah’s story proves that if we obey God’s call to His mission, He will use our obedience. Even if we just participate in the bare minimum of evangelism, which is invitation, God will use it. Nineveh repented and turned to God after a 7-word sermon from a reluctant servant. How much more will God use your willing obedience to His mission? 

God loves your city. He loves your neighbors. And, He loves you. That’s why He’s invited you into His mission. We’ve discovered this week that we’ve been more like Jonah than we thought. It was a tough pill to swallow. But here’s the good news – we don’t have to stay that way. Jonah obeyed the Lord, but He did it reluctantly. We have an opportunity to obey Him wholeheartedly! An opportunity to embrace His call to seek and save the lost and make disciples. An opportunity to make this our lifestyle! Our purpose! 

 

And if we do, I have to believe that God will do something even greater in our city than He did in Ninevah. That God will use our collective obedience to bring the most unlikely folks into His Kingdom. To make them His children. And to use them to change the world! And why do I believe that? Because it wouldn’t be the first time God saved a city. And, because we serve a God who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20-21).

Prayer: Father, impact my city like You impacted Nineveh. I know I’ve been too reluctant as Your messenger, but I want to obey Your call to this ministry of reconciliation. Father, forgive me for all the times I’ve let fear or apathy take over. Here and now, I ask that You would use me. Let me be a light to my neighbors and friends. Help them see You through me—through my intentional words and actions. Help me invite them into a relationship with You. Amen. 

 

Reflection:
1. God gave Jonah a second chance and called him back to the mission. How does God’s invitation to Jonah show us that failure doesn’t disqualify us? Where in your life do you need to accept His second chance to join His mission? 

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2. Jonah’s reluctant, seven-word sermon led to an entire city repenting. What does this teach you about God’s power to use even small acts of obedience as invitations for others to turn to Him?

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3. The least likely people—the violent and idolatrous Ninevites—responded to God’s invitation with repentance. Who in your life might seem “unlikely” to respond to God, and how could your simple invitation be the very spark God uses to draw them in?

(MULTILINE) 

Application:
Ask God to place one “unlikely” person on your heart. Step out in obedience and extend an intentional invitation—whether that’s sharing your testimony, inviting them to church, or offering to pray with them—trusting that God can use even the smallest act to bring about transformation. 

 

Week 7 – Day 4: God’s Heart for People 

Read: Jonah 4:1–11 

 

The fourth chapter of Jonah is a tough one to swallow. It’s one that I never want to see myself in. Jonah hesitantly does what God told him to do. He preaches the shortest sermon of repentance possibly ever – and God melts the heart of some of the hardest people on earth. You would think it would be a day of rejoicing. The angels in heaven certainly are. But there is Jonah…sitting outside the city…head down…arms crossed…sulking in the sun. While heaven rejoices, Jonah pouts. 

 

It’s a strange picture, isn’t it? I mean, this is the same guy who promised to fulfill God’s mission just days before. He faithfully went through the city, preaching the message, and now he’s just fuming in anger. Why? Well, because Jonah wanted what so many of us want. He wanted justice. The thought that THESE people could receive God’s grace was beyond him. His hurt was rooted in national pride. This was the capital city of Israel’s greatest threat. Jonah didn’t want God to forgive these people – he wanted God to judge them. 

 

Can I ask you a difficult question today? Do you know someone like that in your life? Someone you would prefer God judge rather than extend grace to? Sometimes our sense of fairness is challenged by the grace of God. When that happens, we need to remember an important Biblical truth – one that Jonah needed a reminder of: The earth and everything in it, the world and its inhabitants, belong to the LORD (Psalm 24:1). That’s the core of God’s not-so-gentle message to Jonah. 

 

Think about it… Jonah cared more about a plant dying than about the potential loss of an entire city of people. It was absurd, and God had to confront him about it. We might not have actual vines that matter that much to us, but we all have our own “plants.” For some, it’s comfort; for others, it’s convenience or past hurt. We all have things that we allow to matter more to us than the lost people of our city. (Take a moment and reread that.)

God wants to reveal these things. He desires us to share His heart for the lost. Where we see sinners, threats, and enemies, God sees souls—men and women created in His image. People He loves so much that He sent His only Son to die for them (John 3:16). If you want to understand how God feels about your city, just look to Jesus. As Jesus enters Jerusalem, with His face set toward the cross (Luke 9:51 KJV), He stops and weeps over it (Luke 19:41-44). He says, “If you knew this day what would bring peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.” Jesus’ heart was broken over the city’s lostness, and it’s broken over the lostness of your city too.

The fourth chapter of the book of Jonah is designed to grab the reader’s attention. We are meant to read it and think, “that’s not right.” Jonah’s anger at an entire city repenting and turning to God is meant to contrast with God’s heart and mission. It’s intended to challenge us—to make us reflect on how we view the people God has called us to. 

 

Nineveh was a city full of unlikely recipients of grace. They were known for being tough and unyielding. But God was persistent in His pursuit of them because all 120,000 of the people mattered to Him.

Our city is growing rapidly. With each new home sale, our demographics change and traffic increases. And it’s not going to stop anytime soon. That leaves us with two options: we can either dwell in frustration over the city or embrace God’s heart to reach the people He’s placed in our path. The people He has literally brought right to our doorstep.

God loves people. They are His treasure, which is why He sent Jesus to earth. He wanted to restore the relationship with people that sin had broken. Jesus is God’s gift to the world — not just to us but to everyone. It’s God’s act of grace, and He alone decides who receives it. Our role is to go where He directs us and to say what He prompts. We are to invite others into a relationship with Him, just like we were invited.

The story of Jonah shows that God never gives up on people, even those who are far from Him. He also doesn’t give up on His reluctant messengers! He didn’t give up on Jonah, and He won’t give up on you either. I always say there are two ways to do God’s will: willingly or unwillingly. Willingly is always better! Jesus loves your city. He loves your neighbors. All of them. And He has called you to go and to tell them so.

Prayer: God, give me your heart for people. I read the book of Jonah and I’m shocked at his reluctance to share your grace with others. But the truth is, I’m not much better. I get fed up and frustrated with others too easily. I hold grudges and tend to want fairness instead of grace. But Lord, if you gave everyone what they deserved, then I would be headed for hell. Help me remember that. Help me extend your grace to everyone you place in my path. Make me a faithful servant, not a reluctant one. Amen. 

 

 

Reflection:
1. Jonah was angry that God extended grace to people he thought didn’t deserve it. How does Jonah’s reluctance reveal how easy it is for us to resist God’s invitation to share His heart for people? Who in your life do you struggle to see through God’s eyes? 

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2. Jonah cared more about a plant’s shade than about 120,000 people in Nineveh. What “plants” in your life—comfort, convenience, or past hurt—compete with God’s invitation to love people?(MULTILINE)
3. God reminded Jonah that every person in Nineveh mattered to Him. How does this passage invite you to see your city differently, and what step could you take this week to reflect God’s heart for the people around you?

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Application:
Ask God to reveal one “plant” in your life that has kept you from fully embracing His heart for people. Lay it down in prayer, and then extend an intentional invitation to someone—showing them God’s grace through your words or actions. 

 

 

Week 7 – Day 5: Rejoicing over Repentance 

Read: Luke 15:1–7 

 

What a week. The story of Jonah has frustrated us, challenged us, and revealed God’s heart for the lost and His desire to use us to reach them. As we finish the week, I’d like us to compare Jonah’s heart with Jesus’. Today’s text begins with a familiar complaint. You can hear Jonah’s spirit in the Pharisees’ voices as they complained about Jesus’ mission, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Jonah was shocked that God wanted to extend grace to the Ninevites. The Pharisees were in shock that Jesus would extend grace to tax collectors and prostitutes. Both reveal a human heart that is okay personally receiving God’s grace, but uncomfortable when that same grace is extended to someone they deem less worthy.  

 

And that’s when Jesus decided to tell them a story. Ancient Israel was known for its shepherding culture. Shepherding was a common profession, and even if the religious people He was speaking to weren’t shepherds themselves, they certainly understood how highly shepherds valued each individual sheep. They would even protect them with their own lives. When Jesus speaks of leaving the ninety-nine to seek the one, He speaks as if everyone present would agree. 

 

But here’s the catch… while the Pharisees no doubt agreed in principle with Jesus’ story, they weren’t living it out when it came to people. They didn’t focus on those who were far from God. Instead, they spent all their time, energy, and effort ministering to religious people. In other words, they didn’t see tax collectors and other “sinners” as worth their time or pursuit.

And this would be a recurring point of disagreement between Jesus and the religious leaders of his era. They were so self-absorbed that they completely overlooked God’s heart, mission – even His promised ANSWER to their sin – Jesus (the long-awaited Messiah).  

In Matthew 9, Jesus has a similar encounter with the Pharisees as in our passage today. Matthew writes, “While he was reclining at the table in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came to eat with Jesus and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Now when he heard this, he said, ‘It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.’” (Matthew 9:10-13). 

 

Similarly, the Pharisees were frustrated when Jesus stopped to seek out Zacchaeus, the tax collector. Again, Jesus made His heart clear. He said, “…the Son of Man has come to seek and save the lost.” Seeking and saving the lost was Jesus’ mission. That is the heart of God! And it must be our heart too. We need to become seekers of the lost. Remember — at one time, we were the one! 

 

And as we do, we need to keep in mind that all the effort is worth it. No prayer is unheard. No invitation is unused. God will use all of it to bring people to Himself. One by one, He will call their name. He will use your invitation, your story, and His gospel. As we go and share, He will do the heavy lifting—picking them up and bringing them home. And every time He does… every single time that He uses us to bring someone else into the Kingdom, there will be a party in heaven. Every. Single. Time.

How good is that?

That’s your story, you know? The day you put your faith in Jesus, there was a party in heaven. And now, God wants to use you to help have more parties! That means you are now part of the heavenly party planning committee—let’s go! The only question is: will you join the party planning committee, or sit on the sidelines as a party pooper?”

Don’t be Jonah. Be like Jesus. Reach out to the lost. Share His love. Rejoice with the angels as they celebrate another sinner who has come home.

Prayer: God, I’ve been a party pooper for too long. I’m tired of sitting on the sideline. I’m starting to truly believe that you want to use me in this. Keep giving me opportunities, Lord. Open my eyes to them. Let me see. Help me not to miss them. Break my heart for my city. Here I am, send me. Amen.  

 

Reflection:
1. How does Jesus’ story of the lost sheep reveal God’s heart of invitation to the sinner? How is this different from Jonah’s or the Pharisees’ attitudes? In what ways might we unintentionally mirror Jonah’s or the Pharisees’ reluctance to seek the lost? How can we practically align our hearts with God’s persistent, joyful pursuit of sinners? 

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2. Jesus said in Matthew 9:13, “I desire mercy and not sacrifice.” What does this teach us about how we should approach people far from God? How does this shape our mission of inviting others to know Him?

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3. Think about your own story. Who “left the ninety-nine” to help you find your way to Jesus? How does remembering that strengthen your desire to invite others?

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Application:
Ask God to reveal someone to you who feels like the “one lost sheep.” Pray for them by name, and keep an eye out for a chance to invite them personally—whether that’s sharing your story, inviting them to church, or just showing them Christ’s love in a concrete way.