When Grace Gets Under Your Skin

Well, come right on up here to this ol’ front porch, friend, and park yourself right over there before the coffee cools and that lil’ ol’ blue jay up there in the dogwood bush starts squawkin’ like he owns the deed to the property around here.

Ol’ Jonah came stompin’ into Jonah 4 sho’-nuff’ madder than an ol’ wet tomcat trapped in a wash tub. Nineveh had repented, God had shown mercy, and instead of rejoicin’, Jonah was plum aggravated that grace had landed on folks he didn’t think deserved it.

Jonah 4:1 says, “But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry.” Imagine that. Jonah wasn’t upset because God had failed. He was upset because God had been merciful.

Then God asked him a question worth sittin’ with: “Is it right for you to be angry?” Jonah 4:4.

That question reaches clear across the centuries and settles right over here beside us. Sometimes we’re mighty thankful for grace when it comes knockin’ at our own door, but when it wanders across the road to somebody that we’ve already judged, we can plum bristle up like an ol’ porcupine caught underneath the berry basket.

God gave Jonah a plant for shade, then allowed a worm to downright destroy it. Jonah grieved more over that plant than over an entire city full of people. God was showin’ him that a heart can become so wrapped up in personal comfort and personal justice that it plum forgets compassion for others.

That’s why James 1:20 warns, “For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” Our anger may feel mighty justified, but it can’t produce the mercy, patience, and redemption God desires.

And Micah 7:18 tells us why saying, “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity... because he delighteth in mercy.” Mercy ain’t something God reluctantly hands out. It sho’-nuff’ flows from His very heart.

Father, search my heart for resentment, pride, and anger. Help me rejoice when You show mercy, even to people I struggle to forgive. Teach me to see others through Your compassion and remember how much grace You have given me. Make my heart more like Yours. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Now, go over there and grab your hat so you can git back to moseyin’ on into the rest of your day, friend. Don’t you be carryin’ yesterday’s grudges around like an ol’ raccoon draggin’ a stolen pie through the woods. Leave room for God to surprise you with His mercy. Remember, the grace that reaches your neighbor is the very same grace that rescued you. And if God delights in mercy, sho’ nuff’, His children ought to be learnin’ to delight in it, too.

With joy,

Gwen