SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 11/23/2025
My Worship Time Focus: Pt-2 “A Fitting Analogy”
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Jonah 4:6-8
Message of the verses: “So Yahweh God appointed a plant, and it came up over Jonah to be a shade over his head to deliver him from his miserable evil. And Jonah was extremely glad about the plant. But God appointed a worm at the breaking of dawn the next day, and it struck the plant, and it dried up. Then it happened that as the sun rose up, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun struck down on Jonah’s head so that he became faint and asked with all his soul to die and said, “Death is better to me than life.”
We continue looking at these verses this morning, and begin with this quote from John MacArthur: “The plant, likely a castor oil plant with bushy leaves providing ample shade, came over Jonah, growing at a miraculous speed and sprouting in the very place where Jonah sat. Jonah did not have to move to receive the comforting benefits of its cover. The Lord graciously caused the bush to shield Jonah, with no work on the prophet’s part (cf. Gal. 3:10-14; Eph. 2:8-10; 1 Peter 1:21).” Let us now look at these verses in the order they were given.
10 For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM." 11 Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, "THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH." 12 However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, "HE WHO PRACTICES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM." 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us — for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE" — 14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
21 who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
“Thus, God created the plant to provide immediate shade over Jonah’s head and the makeshift shelter (cf. Jonah 4:5), which was clearly inadequate to furnish full protection from the sun. This plant offered shade in a way that Jonah’s booth failed to do. Again, God’s grace bestowed on Jonah what the prophet needed but was unable to provide for himself.”
Well it is Sunday morning and so I have to go to our Sunday school and church services in a bit, so I will stop now and Lord willing, pick it up tomorrow morning.
Spiritual Meaning for My Life today: I must be diligent to do the things in my life in order to please the Lord, and that can only be done by trusting that the Holy Spirit of God will lead me to do the things that He has called me to do for the cause of Christ.
My Steps of Faith for Today: Continue to trust the Lord for giving direction to my wife and me for the cancer that she has. Trust that He will guide us to do the right things that will bring glory to the Lord.
11/23/2025 8:31 AM
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