SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 9/03/2025 8:21 AM
My Worship Time Focus: “PT-2 Intro to Jonah 1:1-6)”
Bible Reading and Meditation Reference: Jonah 1:1-6
Message of the verses: “1 The word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before Me." 3 But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. So he went down to Joppa, found a ship which was going to Tarshish, paid the fare and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. 4 The LORD hurled a great wind on the sea and there was a great storm on the sea so that the ship was about to break up. 5 Then the sailors became afraid and every man cried to his god, and they threw the cargo which was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone below into the hold of the ship, lain down and fallen sound asleep. 6 So the captain approached him and said, "How is it that you are sleeping? Get up, call on your god. Perhaps your god will be concerned about us so that we will not perish.’”
John MacArthur entitles this first chapter in his commentary on Jonah: “An Unwilling Missionary.” I think that is a very good title for this section of the book of Jonah, as Jonah certainly was an unwilling missionary. Now like the introduction to the book which I quoted from MacArthur’s commentary, I will continue to quote the introduction to these first six verses from MacArthur’s commentary.
“While Israel was called to be a witness nation to a watching world, God also selected individuals to address Gentile nations directly. For example, the Lord directed Abraham to prophesy to his pagan neighbors (cf. Gen. 20:7); Moses proclaimed divine truth to the Egyptians (cf. Exod 3:10; 4:16; 7:1); Elijah confronted the Phoenician princess Jezebel (1 Kings 17:2); Elisha issued divine instructions to the Syrian leper Naaman (2 Kings 5); and Daniel operated as a missionary statesman in Babylon and Medo Persia (cf. Dan 2:1-45; 4:19-27). The Old Testament prophets also addressed the surrounding nations in their writings. Isaiah wrote concerning Babylon, Assyria, Philistia, Moab, Damascus, Ethiopia, Egypt, Dumah, Arabia, and Tyre (Isa.13-23). Jeremiah penned prophecies about Egypt, Philistia, Moab, Ammon, Edom, Damascus, Kedar, Hazor, Elam, and Babylon (Jer. 46-61). Ezekiel preached about Ammon, Moab, Edom, Philistia, Tyre, Sidon, and Egypt (Ezek. 25-32). Daniel, Obadiah, Nahum, and Zephaniah also declared the truth of God concerning Gentile nations. As repeatedly illustrated throughout the Old Testament, God chose Israel to the messenger of His truth to all nations because He is the Lord over all people.
“The New Testament writers also testified to God’s care for both Jews and Gentiles (cf. Mark 7:26-30; John 4:7-27). Paul emphasized this point with a series of rhetorical questions” ‘Is God the God of Jews also? Is He not the God of Gentiles also?’ (Rom. 3:29; cf. Acts 18:6). Because the Lord has chosen to save both Jews and Gentiles, heaven will consist of saints ‘from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues’ (Rev. 7:9). A song of worship will resound in heaven, directed to the Lord Jesus Christ, ‘Worthy are You to take the scroll and to open its seals, because You were slain and purchased for God with Your blood people from every tribe and tongue and people and nation’ (Rev. 5:9). That heavenly anthem reflects the fulfillment of Christ’s Great Commission (Matt. 28:28-30), a call that demonstrates God’s heart for sinners from Jerusalem and Judea to the very ends of the earth (cf. Acts 1:18).
Spiritual meaning for my life today: What was written in today’s SD is a picture of why I take time each day to write these Spiritual Diaries, and that is to give out the gospel to those around the world to those that the Holy Spirit is leading to read them, to cause believers to grow in their faith so that they too can spread the good news of the gospel to others as well. In short to do my part in fulfilling the great commission that Jesus has set forth for believers to do, and it is my prayer that the Holy Spirit of God will do this through these Spiritual Diaries.
My Steps of Faith for Today: I do trust that the Spirit of God will continue to use what I believe He has led me to do for the cause of Christ each and every day.
9/3/2025 9:02 AM
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