Can one person really make a difference?  The story of our man Jonah answers yes to the question.  My personal study is enjoying this look into the reluctant prophet.  Reading the account takes no time at all yet the themes within the book span all of scripture.  Today our guiding thought was about how this one guy will lead to an outbreak of renewal among these pagan people.  Being swallowed by a big fish is only a small aspect of the overall theology.  Questioning the historical truth of the book must give way to facing the message throughout our story.  Jonah is a solitary and imperfect man.  But you cannot read what happens without the sense there is more here than meets the eye.  You are asked about the effect that your life has on those around you.  Jonah is not the only character dealing with such matters. 

We know full well that Jonah completely misses the mark when it comes to the purpose of God.  It never even occurred to him that his God may want to save a heathen people.  Reluctance is the right word to describe his attitude.  But we still find our prophet going to those evil sinners with a divine message.  We can easily forget that same element of truth.  Those people we see as mean and beyond reason to rescue are exactly the ones God wants to save.  Somehow our memory can miss the story of Jesus in a similar situation.  More than a few religious people will criticize Jesus for spending time with those they see as unworthy of salvation.  I can imagine that sometimes even His disciples had to wonder about their surroundings.  Grace is the reality that God does send Jesus to reach out to those most forgot along the way.  You and I were in that condition at one time.  God desires to reclaim those who even stubbornly resist His mercy.  Always keep this in mind should you want to make a difference.  Scripture reminds us we are simply joining God in what is His purpose all along.

People matter in the business of making a difference.  Jonah matters even with all of his failings.  What incredible grace is exposed in God using even someone with all of the problems of this prophet.  No one ever said we need be perfect in order to be used by God.  Every time there is a need in people's lives it seems that God sends a human being to meet that need.  Here is the other side of that fact.  Only one person in all of scripture is perfect.  All of the rest of us live with our tendency to make mistakes as we move along in the journey.  Moses will face his insecurities just as we often do.  David will make an enormous mess of his life even with a heart shaped by God.  We could go on but you can get the idea.  We matter to others in ways great and small.  Some of these are in our family while others may be our friends.  Yet each and every one of us matter greatly.  Our goal is to be sure the difference we make is positive and not negative.  There is a sure way to make it a reality.

Those who make a divine difference in others are those who spend time with God.  Here is where we discover His purpose while becoming more of what He desires.  Casual believers do not often contribute to those around them being shaped by God.  I don't mean to sound harsh just honest.  Every congregation tends to have those who see their life as more important than what it may be.  Activity is never a worthy substitute for genuine devotion.  Jonah undertakes a crash course in real theology between the storm and the fish.  Success begins with letting God be God in our heart or our world.  This is one sure way to make a difference.  Allow your relationship with God to make that difference in you.  No one can ever predict what may happen through you should you live this way.  But anyone who misses spending time with God can easily predict what will not happen.  Jonah is not an ideal model to emulate but he does tell us even those not so great can see God do great things.  One can only hope this will be the norm and not the exception.

Bro. Trey