"You pity the plant..." Jonah 4:10-11

Grace or disgrace

When it pertains to the issue of abuse towards woman and children I have often struggled to respond in grace. I naturally lean towards being gracious to the victim and hard on the abuser. It would be in the same category of Jonah not wanting to go to Nineveh KNOWING that GOD would show mercy to the ruthless Ninevites. Yet God asked Jonah, “Shouldn’t I be concerned about the Ninevites? Who do not know their right hand from their left…” 

It was last Tuesday morning that a message on God’s forgiveness echoed throughout the jail. I was sitting on the ground across from a cell that contained no less than 35 men; I bowed my head in my hands and struggled with my thoughts about a man who mercilessly killed His wife and two children. When I looked up, he was directly across from me in a cell. He stared at me without expression and my mind was colliding with the issue of grace or disgrace.

At times I find myself as Jonah, and then I realize I am the guilty man.  All I need to do is look in the mirror. We are all Ninevites apart from the grace of God and deserving of hellfire. Lord, we know that vengeance is yours, help us to be vessels of grace and truth and a voice of hope to those that are perishing!

Comments

[Grant McKeel]

Jeff,
Glad to see you sharing your struggles with your friends and family. You are right about that situation, it is hard to be empathetic and see both sides. Continue to seek the HolySpirit and he will give you the wisdom,compassion and love you need for every situation.
Grant McKeel

[Mark Klyne]

Amen Jeff! It is true! I have an excellent diagram for that i'll show you sometime.