What's on our hearts?

"Now the Lord God appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort.So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant. But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered."

Jonah 4 : 6-7 

We all are familiar of the story of Jonah. God wanted him to go to Nineveh and he refused and tried running away . And when God finally got him to obey he went and spoke to Nineveh . But when the people sought the Lord, the Lord relented from destroying them and saved their city.  Now Jonah couldn't comprehend this. In fact he was angry with God. In fact in the earlier verses , he complains saying "That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster"

Isn't it pretty interesting that Jonah did what God wanted him to do but his heart wasn't in it. He did what God wanted him to do and yet he was far from knowing the heart of God. In fact technically (from his head) he knew the merciful nature of God, but his heart was not moved with compassion for the people of Nineveh.

Its a good 'stop & reflect' moment just to think of the things we do which are right , which are good, but our hearts are not in it . Technically we know the heart of our God , but our hearts are not moved.  Whether this looks like giving to those in need, placing our offerings before God, praying for those around us, coming to church... whatever shape or form the things we do may look like, may the callousness of our hearts be removed so that our hearts will be moved with the compassion and mercy of Christ.

Gotta love how amazing our God is. He appoints a plant and made it cover up Jonah and then caused a worm to destroy it to help teach Jonah, if Jonah could miss a plant (for which he had nothing to do ... he didn't plant it, water it , make it grow... nothing.. yet he missed it when it was gone because what it provided him) , how much more would God's heart be moved for the people of Nineveh.

The blessings that God has placed in our lives stand as a constant reminder of the heart of God. The fact that we can inhale and exhale oxygen. The fact that we can the faces of our loved ones, the honour of having good knees to be able to kneel before His throne... the joy when a child comes running and gives a hug....Living a life completely ransomed by the blood of the Christ.... How can we not see the heart of God in it all ? And having received such grace and mercy , how can we not extend the same we have so freely and undeservingly received?

God Bless