Stepping toward the world begins with a clear sense of mission and purpose. Claims to certain ways of life, ideologies, possessions, and comforts get in the way of mission when they become our focus. When others threaten our sense of sense of security, we tend to fight tooth and nail to preserve that security. This is one of the mysteries of the Gospel for those who do not know Jesus: we are able to give up everything in this life because we have the one thing that really matters.
Here are a few examples:
Matthew 10:28 – Jesus is sending out the Twelve and tells them not to be afraid of the one who can only kill the body but cannot kill the soul. He then offers reassurance that those sent by God to step toward the world have great value to God and he will take care of them.
Matthew 13:44-46 – Jesus tells two parables where the person in the story sells everything to have the one thing that had value. How is this guy going to eat? Where will they find shelter? What really matters in this parable?
Philippians 3:4-14 – Paul lists his reasons for why he should have every confidence in the flesh but he considers them rubbish, trash, for the sake of Christ (v7). He then says that the more he knows Jesus the less things matter to him. They become mere tools for stepping toward the world for the sake of Jesus.
Philippians 4:10-13 – Paul then takes things further, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” This comes at the end of a list of the highs and lows of his life. What we see in Paul is one who has relinquished all things for the sake of stepping toward the world and sharing Christ.
When you hold too tight to your stuff it will come in the way of stepping toward those who need to know Jesus. The mission of the Church, and of every Christian, is to take the good news of redemption, reconciliation, and restoration through Jesus to the world as a blessing. This is the mission of Israel, which they neglected.
God called his people to be a blessing to the world (Gen 12:1-3) and to be a Royal Priesthood and Holy Nation (Exodus 19:6; echoed in 1 Peter 2:9). Their form of government was clear: theocracy – God is King. But they rejected God as their king and wanted to be like the nations (1 Samuel 8). After warning the people of how a king will abuse them God relented and gave them a king, establishing a new form of government: theocratic monarchy – King represents God’s rule and is supposed to model God’s character. Their rejection of God as their true king continues as the theme of the entire Bible, beginning in the Garden through putting Jesus on the cross. The prophets of the First Testament continued to call Israel back to accepting God as their king and living as though they were his true Kingdom.
This sets the stage for one of my favorite books in the Bible: Jonah.
This is a short story you likely already have in your head. Don’t assume you already know the story. Read it again as though reading it for the first time. Here’s how I’d like you to try and read it though. Do not read it as history in the sense of “here’s what happened.” That actually isn’t the point. It is written as comedy. You’re invited to laugh at the ridiculousness of Jonah and how terrible he is. Jonah then becomes a mirror for God’s people to see themselves and their struggles.
What in the story do you see as comedic? Here are a few hints:
Jonah is literally trying to run from GOD.
Pagan sailors are praying to their gods while the preacher is sleeping.
Whole boat of sailors converted to worshipping GOD despite the preacher.
God sends a water taxi as redemption.
The other theme to pay attention to is “God provided.” Take note when you see this.
The meat of the story comes in chapter 4. Read this chapter a few times and wrestle with these questions:
In what tone do you hear the characteristics of God being spoken in 4:1-3?
Why is Jonah angry in this chapter (it’s more than once)?
What point does God want us to hear in this book?
Jonah cares more about the vine than he does the Ninevites. What are your vines that you are holding too tightly? Who are your Ninevites that you could care less what happened to them?