Ordinary Time: Thursday, October 19, 2006

Old Testament Lesson

Jonah 3:1-4:11

A couple of things here. This is what hatred does to you. Jonah so hated this people that he was actually angry when they repented and turned to the Lord. He was angry when the Lord forgave, he said that's why he didn't want to go there, he knew the Lord would forgive. That's what hatred can do; it can make you angry when good things happen to others. You can have your heart so turned against someone, you want to see them he hurt. That's where Jonah was at that point, he did not want to see them forgiven, he wanted to see them destroyed.

And we see God's mercy. Not just towards Jonah's enemies, but towards Jonah. Jonah was imperfect, he still had this great hate in his heart; yet God still used him. God doesn't only use the perfect, He will use each of us. His use of us is not dependent upon our perfection, but upon His grace. Today, He was even able to use Jonah to help save the people he hated.

If He can use Jonah, don't you know that He can use you too?

New Testament Lesson

Acts 27:27-44

One thing we learn from Paul's life is that God's plan isn't always easy. We see that it was God's plan for Paul to testify for Him in Rome; but he keeps having troubles, different kings, ship wrecks, etc. Sometimes this road can be challenging.

But, in each hardship, God is glorified. In each trouble, God is glorified. In each tough walk, God is glorified. Today, know that even in your troubles, you can glorify God today. In all that you do, you can give glory to God. Today, His light can shine through you.

Gospel Lesson

Luke 9:18-27

What good does it do us to chase after the riches of the world, if we loose our soul? What good does it do us to have all the worldly possessions, if we loose that walk with God. CS Lewis liked to speak about those things that are eternal being the priorities in our lives. So often, we let things that are passing be the priorities. We let earthy things shape our actions, we let earthly things determine our emotions, we let earthly things determine who we are.

What good does it to have all the riches of the world, if we lose our soul. Today, is you hope, is your identity found in Jesus Christ, or in the world. If it is int eh world, friends, you will be in trouble in this end, for this this world is passing away. Only God the Father, the Son, and the Spirit, this God that is three yet one, only this is eternal.