The book of Jonah doesn’t often get mentioned in the Devotionals, it’s a great story for Messy Church or an all age service but, bless him, Jonah usually gets a bad press in such presentations.
However, when I looked up the word ‘thanksgiving’ in a concordance, it was a reference in Jonah that caught my eye.
But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation belongs to the Lord. Jonah 2:9 [NIV]
These words are said by Jonah while he is the black, slimy, stinky belly of the whale with not much to hope for apart from his own likely progress through the whale’s digestive system. Not afterwards when it’s all turned out okay and not before everything about his life and mission took such a dramatic downturn.
Jonah decides to give thanks to God right there and then in the belly of the whale. It is possibly his finest hour.
Reflect: look back over your life and think about the times when you have felt in a dark, black place. Can you give thanks to God for bringing you through such times?
ThankGIVING: thank God today for everyone who is part of a ministry that reaches out and helps people who are in dark, black places. Those who work with CAP or Street Pastors, Healing on the Streets, or the Foodbank. Thank God for all the help that they have been able to offer in the name of Jesus. Is serving in this way one way you could give back to God for all he’s given you?
Sheila Bridge
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