Pastor Bell's Words To Live By

Jonah preached the word, the people repented and God saved them. This is the formulae that still work today. You preach the word, the Holy Spirit convicts people and God saves them through the finished work of Jesus on the cross. However we must be very careful when we are engaged in the business of leading people to Christ. It is easy to become depressed especially when things don’t turn out as we expected. For Jonah this led to severe depression and a desire to die. Always remember that God’s remit is to bring life to those who put their trust in him not death. To avoid these and other pit falls, it is imperative that we stick to the plan that God devised in the first place and remember that since God devised the plan, it is his prerogative to change it as and when he wills. This is the beauty about following God, he has a great sense of humour, and as Jonah reminds us, he is merciful and gracious and abounding in steadfast love.  That’s my God, a merciful forgiving God who always gives us a second chance. Today, don’t get depressed trust in the Lord! Don’t give up on the vision that God gave you, stay focussed and it will come to pass. It may take a different turn from what you envisaged, but remember that with God all things are possible.

Read the whole book of Jonah again.