Gulp.
Jonah 1:1-2
King James Version
1 Now the word of the Lord
came unto Jonah
the son of Amittai,
saying,
2 Arise,
go to Nineveh,
that great city,
and cry against it;
for their wickedness is come up before me.
Jonah dunnit.
When I first read the story of prophet Jonah, I kept laughing, and laughing.
To this day, I simply can't stop.
He was too funny.
The BIBLE can be funny.
GOD can be funny.
Especially when we can't seem to understand His laws.
Or when He disciplines us.
Or when we can't make sense of things.
Wondering why things go wrong.
Things go wrong, for we are all wrong.
We go this way, and that, except follow God.
Then we wonder why things don't work out.
We can't see the forest, from the trees.
We find ourselves dumbfounded.
But if you know God -- as a child would -- expect, the unexpected.
God knew I had a funny heart.
He also knew I was going to teach.
So, He regaled me with stories to share with you.
When it made me laugh, He said, "TEACH that."
The MOMENTARILY frightened PROPHET
The LIFE of a CRAZY BORN AGAIN KID
For a childlike heart, you will find God funny.
For His SPIRIT can take on many forms, reveal His many ways, send His message out, to an unbelieving, hard-hearted population.
I like the part even devils tremble.
I can imagine them shaking, in their claws.
Luke 4:34
King James Version
34 Saying,
Let us alone;
what have we to do with thee,
thou Jesus of Nazareth?
art thou come to destroy us?
I know thee who thou art;
the Holy One of God.
James 2:19
King James Version
19 Thou believest that there is one God;
thou doest well:
the devils also believe,
and tremble.
If anything, the devils believe, more than we do.
Because they know the POWER of GOD.
Still, we ALL have the SAME learning disability.
We never remember WHO GOD REALLY IS.
We keep forgetting what He told us.
We keep testing the Lord.
We keep defying His statutes.
When we can easily be zapped, like a fly.
Once you're born again, and SPIRIT opens your heart to the TRUTH of GOD, you'll never be the same again.
You will LOVE reading the BIBLE.
Marveling, and laughing, at God's stories.
For it has many cool things about GOD.
A born again loves God's stories.
For God is truly funny.
Only because man is funny.
We keep going around in circles, when He already gave us His LAWS.
We follow for a while.
Then, we backslide.
Then, He punishes us.
Then, we behave.
For a while.
Then we forget.
We turn back to our awful ways.
Earning us His wrath.
But He is forever merciful.
And we are forever hounded by our learning disabilities.
Not to mention perpetual memory loss.
We make so many excuses not to follow God.
Well, He has many reasons to send us flood, plagues, and prophets.
Still, we need to go to an EENT.
An eye, ear, nose, throat doctor.
For we are blind.
We are deaf.
We can't smell a good thing -- GOD.
We can't speak good things.
We need the BEST EENT doc -- JESUS.
And because I am born again, child-like, eager for His funny stories, the learning, and teaching continue.
JESUS did say:
Matthew 18:3-4
King James Version
3 And said,
Verily I say unto you,
Except ye be converted,
and become as little children,
ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself
as this little child,
the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
People say I'm cheerful.
True.
GOD made me that way.
His SPIRIT in me does that.
He knows a crazy, tickled heart, when He sees one.
Related material:
How Can YOU Not WANT to BECOME Born Again?
(Image source: Free Bible Images)
