Hard is Good & Satan vs. Christians
The waters surrounded me, even to my soul; the deep closed around me; weeds were wrapped around my head. When my soul fainted, I remembered the LORD; and my prayer went up to You into Your holy temple. Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God's love for them.But I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving. I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.Then the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah up onto the dry land.
Jonah 2:5,7,8-10
In verse 6c, Jonah compares the 7x3 ft stomach of the whale to hell. He says, “Yet You have brought up my life from the pit...”
God has been giving me more understanding lately and the perseverance to study what the Bible says about certain topics. These are topics that I didn't understand very well, have strong faith about or the verses to defend it. Studying gives you the verses to convict you, the Word of God to reveal to you and the Holy Spirit to guide you. Here are some of the things that I have been realizing as more than facts or words on a page, but as my own reality and guide of what I need to do and how I need to be.
Hard is good: A real-ish understanding
The Bible talks a lot about trials being good and such esp. in James 1. I always believed it and heartily agreed with it. Now its different though because now I know that this is the time to actually apply it. Instead of thinking that I am owed pleasure and happiness in the liberty of getting to do what I want (though it can be a good thing), I need to make the decision to do what the Bible says and gives examples of. It shows bearing with tough choices and decisions that you may not fully agree with for the better good even though it is really hard. God wants me to do this.
Satan is fighting against Christ and Christians
I've been seeing more situations with either apostates or Christians held in high respect who fall into sin. Satan is the king of lies and there are so many lies that people are blinded by. They believe them because even though they aren't true, each lie makes them feel good.
Religious in their unreligiousness
There are those who meet together at least once a week who get together for the sole purpose of encouraging each other and discussing their 'religion' aka their belief that anything goes: no judging allowed and all ways go to heaven as long as you believe it sincerely. How do you even start to share the truth with them if they are so concerned about not saying that anything is wrong?They are “religiously” concerned about not judging anybody.
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Romans 1:18-21
Thoughts on Jonah taken from a sermon by S. Walker
