Pastor Bell's Words To Live By

Isn’t it interesting that Jonah knew he done wrong when the ship he boarded at Joppa was threatened by a raging storm but was reticent about the fact that God would save the Ninevites from total annihilation. When he was questioned by his fellow travellers he quickly owned up that he was the cause of the storm and that the only way to solve the problem was to jettison him. At no point in his story does Jonah display that he has a change of heart. It is not until circumstances force his hand that Jonah responds. It is against this sort of mindset that Jesus appeals. The eye for an eye brigade who always wants to see their enemies destroyed. Imagine how awed Jesus hearers must have been when faced with fact that their oppressors for years would be destroyed by the coming Messiah. However, this Jesus whom they now accepted as the Messiah was telling them to turn the other cheek, give to those who take from you and love those who despitefully use you (Matthew 5:38ff). The Jonah mindset is still prevalent among us. They follow the Messiah but cannot live next door to someone who is different from them. This religious stance is exemplified by Philip Yancy in his book ‘what so amazing about grace’. Here is relays that fact that as a Southern Baptist in America in the 60s, the fellowship he belonged to were sending  missionaries to Africa but would not allow Black people to become a part of their fellowship. We can be religious followers of the Messiah without being able to understand the full extent of his message. We can ask to be sacrificed like Jonah to save our fellow travellers but still have hatred in our hearts for those who have wronged our people over the years. Today we still have people from the Black community who are still blaming their failings on the ‘white man’. They will never fulfil their potential until they recognise that all men have the image of God as part of their innate make up.  It is a fact that all people group have as part of their history a creation narrative.  Imbedded in all of us is seeds of justice and righteousness, but for this to grow we must learn to become fully human. That is to become a person who works against systems and not people; someone who embraces their own identity without undermining others; Someone who love others because they have learned to first love themselves.  It was because of God’s grace that Jonah was allowed to live to tell his story, and similarly we have the ability to be carriers of His glory, because of His Grace. That is, God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.

Read Matthew 6.