Jonah was a prophet of God who loved preaching to God’s people. When God asked him to go preach to a group of people he didn’t like, Jonah refused to go. Jonah decided that preaching to Nineveh and preaching repentance was not something those evil people deserved. Jonah loved the people of Israel, but the people of Assyria had been extremely cruel towards Israel. Jonah thought that God could use another prophet if he wasn’t available, but God cared about Nineveh and Jonah. So, God went to get Jonah from a boat and put him inside the belly of a fish. Inside the belly of the fish, Jonah reconsidered his mission and his duty.
In a way, the year 2020 could make us feel like we are in the belly of a fish. Now we should be able to reconsider how we have served God and change the areas where we have neglected his mission. Regardless of how evil people may act, and even if we think that they may not be receptive to the Gospel, we still need to teach them about Christ. We never know if they may repent. God has asked us to preach the Gospel to every nation. We need to fulfill that mission regardless of fear of any pandemic, plague or threat. I know we love God’s church. Now let’s carry that love to those outside of it. We are about to get out of the belly of the fish. What will you do once all of this is over? Will you go back to normal or change your ways?
Jesus died for everyone, so we must love all.