Guarding and proclaiming the unchanging truth in a changing world

All-Powerful and Merciful God

30th December 2020
Audio: 

ALL-POWERFUL AND MERCIFUL GOD

The Old Testament passage Jonah chapter 2, is about Jonah’s prayer for God’s mercy and help, while in the belly of a fish. We read in part;

“From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. He said:
“In my distress I called to the Lord,
and he answered me.
From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help,
and you listened to my cry…
“When my life was ebbing away,
I remembered you, Lord,
and my prayer rose to you,
to your holy temple.
“Those who cling to worthless idols
turn away from God’s love for them.
But I, with shouts of grateful praise,
will sacrifice to you.
What I have vowed I will make good.
I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord.’”
And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

The New Testament passage; Colossians 1:15-23, is about the Supremacy of the Son of God. We read in part;

“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.  For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together…
and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation - if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant."

The passages underline the following;

  1. God is all-powerful (Omnipotent). He is able to unsettle and calm the sea water and command a fish to accomplish His mission - Jonah 1,2.  Jesus, is supreme, image of the invisible God and in him all things were created and hold together - Col 1: 15-17.
  2. God is greatly merciful. God heard Jonah’s prayer of distress while he was in the fish and in the depth of sea and had the fish to vomit him out on land alive - Jonah 2:10. And for us who were alienated from God and were enemies because of our evil behavior are now reconciled to Him by Christ’s physical body through death to present us holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation - Col 121-22. 
  3. We need to prayerfully hold on to trust and hope in God even in desperate situations. Jonah trusted and hoped in God even “When his life was ebbing away,” in the depth of the sea, and remembered to pray and God rescued him - Jonah 2:7. Paul advised his readers to continue in their faith, established and firm, and not move from the hope held out in the gospel - Col.1:23a. 
  4. We need to resolve to serve the course of the Gospel: Like Jonah resolved and said “What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord.’” - Jonah 2:9b, and Paul declared; “This is the gospel that you heard … and of which I, Paul, have become a servant - Col.1:23b.
Prayer: 

“Almighty and merciful God. Forgive our sins of omission and commission. Grant that we shall trust and hope in you in all situations. Inspire and strengthen our resolve to faithfully serve the course of the Gospel. We pray in Jesus Name.” Amen.

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