We recently hosted a Women’s Conference here at St Andrew’s where we dived deep into the book of Jonah to explore the mystery of God’s mercy. It was also very encouraging to gather together over food and fellowship (of over 100 women!) to enjoy discussions as we reflected on some challenging truths in this book – that we are all undeserving.
I was pleasantly surprised to find just how amazing it is to be collectively brought down a peg in this way. I suppose wherever we are in life, it’s generally good for us to receive a healthy dose of humility since we are often so quick to think too highly of ourselves.
In the book of Jonah, God sends Jonah to head to Nineveh to preach repentance to the wicked city. However, Jonah is reluctant because he knows the Lord will be merciful to the city if they repent (and the Assyrians were brutal enemies to the Jewish people). Therefore, Jonah initially tries to flee. But after a great storm results in him being thrown into the sea and spending three days and nights in the belly of a fish, he reluctantly goes to Nineveh to proclaim God’s warning. As a result, the city repents, and God relents.
This is a happy ending, right? Yes – but the last chapter of the book tells us how displeased Jonah is with God’s mercy on Nineveh. This leads the reader to an uncomfortable question: do God’s people always share his heart of compassion for the lost?
let’s be eager to have a heart like God
Let me share my personal takeaways from this event:
Thankfulness – I’m praying that I can be more mindful of how I am an undeserving recipient of God’s mercy, which will hopefully lead to a more thankful heart and increased joy.
Graciousness – I’m also praying that this mindset (of increased thankfulness) will have an outward expression too. Knowing how undeserving I am of God’s love, this should enable me to be more gracious towards other people in my life whom I – for whatever fickle subjective reason – deem to be “undeserving” of my love.
The greatest way we can love those around us is by addressing their greatest need: salvation from God’s judgement (just like the Ninevites back then). Wonderfully, we live in a time in history when we are able to see how God provided Jesus Christ to be the perfect mediator in order for us to be made right with God. So, let’s be eager to have a heart like God and share the gospel with those who need to hear it.
Events like these are so special because they allow women from across our church family, at different life stages and walks of life, to meet together and share our perspectives with one another in a really intimate setting.
If you want to mark your calendar to join our next women’s event, it will be on Saturday 28 November. More details to be announced closer to the day, but why not save the date now to ensure that you’ll be available when it rolls around – we hope to see you there!
