Are You Misinterpreting God’s Kindness?

A cat on the other hand has the mindset A cat on the other hand has the mindset of you feed me, you pet me, you care for of you feed me, you pet me, you care for of you feed me, you pet me, you care for me, you let me live in your home in me, you let me live in your home in me, you let me live in your home in comfort, and you love me, I must be God. Years ago, I I came across a helpful Years ago, I I came across a helpful analogy that I think describes a little analogy that I think describes a little analogy that I think describes a little bit of what's going on in that bit of what's going on in that bit of what's going on in that generation of God's people. generation of God's people. generation of God's people. it it's called because it's an analogy it it's called because it's an analogy it it's called because it's an analogy cat and dog theology cat and dog theology cat and dog theology and yes in one sense it pits dog lovers and yes in one sense it pits dog lovers and yes in one sense it pits dog lovers and cat lovers against one another so if and cat lovers against one another so if and cat lovers against one another so if that's you please refrain from fighting that's you please refrain from fighting that's you please refrain from fighting in the lobby in the lobby in the lobby but it is a wonderful analogy I think of but it is a wonderful analogy I think of but it is a wonderful analogy I think of what's going on then and it could be by what's going on then and it could be by what's going on then and it could be by application a wonderful uh application a wonderful uh application a wonderful uh thought for you to think about whether thought for you to think about whether thought for you to think about whether you fall into one of these. Here's what you fall into one of these. Here's what you fall into one of these. Here's what cat and dog theology essentially says. A cat and dog theology essentially says. A cat and dog theology essentially says. A dog looks at life and lives life toward dog looks at life and lives life toward dog looks at life and lives life toward its owner with the mindset that says, its owner with the mindset that says, its owner with the mindset that says, "You feed me and you pet me and you care "You feed me and you pet me and you care "You feed me and you pet me and you care for me and you let me live in your home for me and you let me live in your home for me and you let me live in your home in comfort and you love me. You must be in comfort and you love me. You must be in comfort and you love me. You must be God.

God. God. You must be God." You must be God." You must be God." A cat on the other hand has the mindset A cat on the other hand has the mindset A cat on the other hand has the mindset of you feed me, you pet me, you care for of you feed me, you pet me, you care for of you feed me, you pet me, you care for me, you let me live in your home in me, you let me live in your home in me, you let me live in your home in comfort, and you love me. I must be God. You must be God You must be God given my life. I must be God given my given my life. I must be God given my given my life. I must be God given my life. life. life. >> [snorts] >> [snorts] >> [snorts] >> Cats and dogs see kindness and >> Cats and dogs see kindness and >> Cats and dogs see kindness and compassion and grace [snorts] compassion and grace [snorts] compassion and grace [snorts] differently. differently. differently. Times of blessing can come to God's Times of blessing can come to God's Times of blessing can come to God's people. Even when God's people are people. Even when God's people are people. Even when God's people are spiritually rotten, but it's only spiritually rotten, but it's only spiritually rotten, but it's only because God is kind. because God is kind. because God is kind. God is compassionate. God is compassionate. God is compassionate. God is loving. God is forgiving. God is God is loving. God is forgiving. God is God is loving. God is forgiving. God is gracious. gracious. gracious. So prosperity and money may not be a So prosperity and money may not be a So prosperity and money may not be a sign of God's commendation on your life.

sign of God's commendation on your life. sign of God's commendation on your life. In fact, it may just be a sign of God's In fact, it may just be a sign of God's In fact, it may just be a sign of God's compassion and pity for you. compassion and pity for you. compassion and pity for you. His pity, not his approval of your His pity, not his approval of your His pity, not his approval of your behavior, wooing you with grace and love behavior, wooing you with grace and love behavior, wooing you with grace and love and compassion. So you've got to be and compassion. So you've got to be and compassion. So you've got to be careful in seeing money as a metric of careful in seeing money as a metric of careful in seeing money as a metric of God's support because you can be a pagan God's support because you can be a pagan God's support because you can be a pagan and he still prosper you. So times were good in Israel So times were good in Israel when Jonah the prophet lived in Israel when Jonah the prophet lived in Israel when Jonah the prophet lived in Israel under Jeroboam II. And it's not because under Jeroboam II. And it's not because under Jeroboam II. And it's not because the Israelites were smarter or betterl the Israelites were smarter or betterl the Israelites were smarter or betterl looking or more godly. It's simply looking or more godly. It's simply looking or more godly. It's simply because God was compassionate and slow because God was compassionate and slow because God was compassionate and slow to anger and abounding in love toward to anger and abounding in love toward to anger and abounding in love toward them. them. them. But that kindness of God, that But that kindness of God, that But that kindness of God, that prosperity that he poured onto their lap prosperity that he poured onto their lap prosperity that he poured onto their lap for for decades didn't draw them back to for for decades didn't draw them back to for for decades didn't draw them back to God. They were like spiritual cats God. They were like spiritual cats God. They were like spiritual cats thinking that they must be something thinking that they must be something thinking that they must be something special.

special. special. And they bit the hand that prospered And they bit the hand that prospered And they bit the hand that prospered them. them. them. So no one deserves God's compassion. So no one deserves God's compassion. So no one deserves God's compassion. God's people don't deserve God's God's people don't deserve God's God's people don't deserve God's compassion. And yet God may choose to compassion. And yet God may choose to compassion. And yet God may choose to extend compassion like he did here. And extend compassion like he did here. And extend compassion like he did here. And that basic truth remains. Jonah knew that basic truth remains. Jonah knew that basic truth remains. Jonah knew that. that. that. You're going to see that Jonah knew that You're going to see that Jonah knew that You're going to see that Jonah knew that God may potentially act in that manner God may potentially act in that manner God may potentially act in that manner because that's a teaching of the because that's a teaching of the because that's a teaching of the scriptures. That's what Godfollowing scriptures. That's what Godfollowing scriptures. That's what Godfollowing Bible believing people accept. Bible believing people accept. Bible believing people accept. You're on the receiving end of God's You're on the receiving end of God's You're on the receiving end of God's compassion because of his goodness. compassion because of his goodness. compassion because of his goodness. And God may bless you despite yourself. And God may bless you despite yourself. And God may bless you despite yourself. Not to make you more comfortable, not to Not to make you more comfortable, not to Not to make you more comfortable, not to make you more distracted, not to make make you more distracted, not to make make you more distracted, not to make you more self-focused like that you more self-focused like that you more self-focused like that generation of Israelites, but but to generation of Israelites, but but to generation of Israelites, but but to lean you back to align your life with lean you back to align your life with lean you back to align your life with him. him. him. New Testament teaches what what Jonah New Testament teaches what what Jonah New Testament teaches what what Jonah learned, too. learned, too. learned, too. New Testament teaches, of course, we New Testament teaches, of course, we New Testament teaches, of course, we read it earlier, that that all have read it earlier, that that all have read it earlier, that that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of sinned and fallen short of the glory of sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23. The New Testament also God. Romans 3:23. The New Testament also God. Romans 3:23. The New Testament also teaches that the the wages of sin is teaches that the the wages of sin is teaches that the the wages of sin is death. But the gift of life comes death. But the gift of life comes death. But the gift of life comes through Christ Jesus. Romans 6:23.

But what the New Testament is teaching But what the New Testament is teaching there through Paul is that a pagan there through Paul is that a pagan there through Paul is that a pagan can get gifted can get gifted can get gifted salvation. salvation. salvation. It's God's gift. It's not something you It's God's gift. It's not something you It's God's gift. It's not something you earn. It's it's just freely given. Uh earn. It's it's just freely given. Uh earn. It's it's just freely given. Uh Paul also in Ephesians chapter 2 says Paul also in Ephesians chapter 2 says Paul also in Ephesians chapter 2 says that that you me you us. We were dead in that that you me you us. We were dead in that that you me you us. We were dead in our transgressions and sins in which we our transgressions and sins in which we our transgressions and sins in which we used to live but because of his great used to live but because of his great used to live but because of his great love for us. God who is rich in mercy love for us. God who is rich in mercy love for us. God who is rich in mercy made us alive in Christ. made us alive in Christ. made us alive in Christ. It was all his doing. It was all an It was all his doing. It was all an It was all his doing. It was all an extension of of his choice to be extension of of his choice to be extension of of his choice to be compassionate and gracious and kind to compassionate and gracious and kind to compassionate and gracious and kind to those who didn't deserve it and could those who didn't deserve it and could those who didn't deserve it and could never earn it. never earn it. never earn it. Paul in Romans chapter 2 tells us that Paul in Romans chapter 2 tells us that Paul in Romans chapter 2 tells us that God's kindness is to lead us to God's kindness is to lead us to God's kindness is to lead us to repentance. [snorts] repentance. [snorts] repentance. [snorts] That God may actually prosper pagan That God may actually prosper pagan That God may actually prosper pagan people so that they turn back to God so people so that they turn back to God so people so that they turn back to God so that they would not be spiritual cats.

that they would not be spiritual cats. that they would not be spiritual cats. So remember that as we enter into this So remember that as we enter into this So remember that as we enter into this wonderful book of Jonah. Jonah knew wonderful book of Jonah. Jonah knew wonderful book of Jonah. Jonah knew that. Jonah knew he didn't deserve God's that. Jonah knew he didn't deserve God's that. Jonah knew he didn't deserve God's compassion. No one does. And Jonah knew compassion. No one does. And Jonah knew compassion. No one does. And Jonah knew that he had been the beneficiary. He had that he had been the beneficiary. He had that he had been the beneficiary. He had experienced in his own life God's experienced in his own life God's experienced in his own life God's compassion. That pagans get prospered by God but That pagans get prospered by God but only because of God's compassion. When only because of God's compassion. When only because of God's compassion. When he is slow to anger with them and he's he is slow to anger with them and he's he is slow to anger with them and he's abounding in love toward them. Worldview abounding in love toward them. Worldview abounding in love toward them. Worldview number three that you cannot miss as we number three that you cannot miss as we number three that you cannot miss as we enter this wonderful study. As a enter this wonderful study. As a enter this wonderful study. As a God-following Bible believer, Brother God-following Bible believer, Brother God-following Bible believer, Brother Jonah knew that God's people are to Jonah knew that God's people are to Jonah knew that God's people are to proclaim God's compassion. proclaim God's compassion. proclaim God's compassion. Proclaim it to all Proclaim it to all Proclaim it to all that that God's people, the northern that that God's people, the northern that that God's people, the northern kingdom of Israel, had a responsibility kingdom of Israel, had a responsibility kingdom of Israel, had a responsibility to testify to testify to testify that the Lord is good. that the Lord is good. that the Lord is good. to testify to all. That was the norm of to testify to all. That was the norm of to testify to all. That was the norm of those who had been the beneficiaries of those who had been the beneficiaries of those who had been the beneficiaries of God's grace, that they would become God's grace, that they would become God's grace, that they would become proclaimers of the goodness of God.

proclaimers of the goodness of God. proclaimers of the goodness of God. back to that class he took in in prophet back to that class he took in in prophet back to that class he took in in prophet school, big Bible texts that everybody school, big Bible texts that everybody school, big Bible texts that everybody in Israel should know, Genesis 12, in Israel should know, Genesis 12, in Israel should know, Genesis 12, when God chose to express his compassion when God chose to express his compassion when God chose to express his compassion on all of us through Abraham and then on all of us through Abraham and then on all of us through Abraham and then those who would come from Abraham, the those who would come from Abraham, the those who would come from Abraham, the Israelites, ultimately funneling down to Israelites, ultimately funneling down to Israelites, ultimately funneling down to the one who would be able to produce uh the one who would be able to produce uh the one who would be able to produce uh compassion of God into salvation in compassion of God into salvation in compassion of God into salvation in humanity. In that little section, verse humanity. In that little section, verse humanity. In that little section, verse three, it says, "So that all the peoples three, it says, "So that all the peoples three, it says, "So that all the peoples of the earth will be blessed." of the earth will be blessed." of the earth will be blessed." All along, God wanted all cultures All along, God wanted all cultures All along, God wanted all cultures inside Israel, outside Israel, to be inside Israel, outside Israel, to be inside Israel, outside Israel, to be blessed by God, to experience life with blessed by God, to experience life with blessed by God, to experience life with God, to be on the receiving end of the God, to be on the receiving end of the God, to be on the receiving end of the goodness of God. Jonah knew that. Jonah goodness of God. Jonah knew that. Jonah goodness of God. Jonah knew that. Jonah knew from his class in big Bible text knew from his class in big Bible text knew from his class in big Bible text that everybody should know uh Exodus 19 that everybody should know uh Exodus 19 that everybody should know uh Exodus 19 that that Israel had had a particular that that Israel had had a particular that that Israel had had a particular calling that God had invited them to be calling that God had invited them to be calling that God had invited them to be the nation through which he would the nation through which he would the nation through which he would mediate his blessings to the world. They mediate his blessings to the world. They mediate his blessings to the world. They were invited to be a kingdom of priests.

were invited to be a kingdom of priests. were invited to be a kingdom of priests. That's the language that's used. That's the language that's used. That's the language that's used. Without going down that rabbit hole too Without going down that rabbit hole too Without going down that rabbit hole too deeply, what that means is they were deeply, what that means is they were deeply, what that means is they were called to be the voice of truth to the called to be the voice of truth to the called to be the voice of truth to the nations and the cultures of the world nations and the cultures of the world nations and the cultures of the world and not just to express it through and not just to express it through and not just to express it through through through teaching commandments, through through teaching commandments, through through teaching commandments, but to live it, to show it. as they but to live it, to show it. as they but to live it, to show it. as they aligned their lives to to to the to the aligned their lives to to to the to the aligned their lives to to to the to the commandments, they were putting God's commandments, they were putting God's commandments, they were putting God's character on display and inviting the character on display and inviting the character on display and inviting the nations of the world to say, "We want to nations of the world to say, "We want to nations of the world to say, "We want to live under that God, not the nonsense live under that God, not the nonsense live under that God, not the nonsense we've been told to live under thus far." we've been told to live under thus far." we've been told to live under thus far." Jonah knew that. Jonah knew that. Jonah knew that. Jonah knew that God's plan all along is Jonah knew that God's plan all along is Jonah knew that God's plan all along is to proclaim God's compassion to all. to proclaim God's compassion to all. to proclaim God's compassion to all. So, it's no surprise how the book So, it's no surprise how the book So, it's no surprise how the book starts. Let's go back to the book of starts. Let's go back to the book of starts. Let's go back to the book of Jonah, Jonah, Jonah, chapter 1, chapter 1, chapter 1, verse one. verse one. verse one. And halfway through verse two, And halfway through verse two, And halfway through verse two, the word of the Lord came to Jonah, the word of the Lord came to Jonah, the word of the Lord came to Jonah, son of Amiti, son of Amiti, son of Amiti, go to the great city of Nineveh, to the great city of Nineveh, go to the great city of Nineveh. Go to go to the great city of Nineveh. Go to go to the great city of Nineveh. Go to another pagan culture, Jonah. A another pagan culture, Jonah. A another pagan culture, Jonah. A different culture to the one that I've different culture to the one that I've different culture to the one that I've sent you previously.

sent you previously. sent you previously. You have a new ministry opportunity. You have a new ministry opportunity. You have a new ministry opportunity. Jonah, go to a great pagan pagan city Jonah, go to a great pagan pagan city Jonah, go to a great pagan pagan city full of lost people. full of lost people. full of lost people. People who do not know God, people who People who do not know God, people who People who do not know God, people who have no interest in knowing God. I'm have no interest in knowing God. I'm have no interest in knowing God. I'm sending you there. sending you there. sending you there. Go do with Ninevite pagans what God did Go do with Ninevite pagans what God did Go do with Ninevite pagans what God did through you with Israelite pagans, through you with Israelite pagans, through you with Israelite pagans, Jonah. Jonah. Jonah. That's not an unfair request of God. That's not an unfair request of God. That's not an unfair request of God. That was certainly not an unexpected That was certainly not an unexpected That was certainly not an unexpected request that God made of Jonah. as you request that God made of Jonah. as you request that God made of Jonah. as you will come to see. will come to see. will come to see. Anyone who has come to know God Anyone who has come to know God Anyone who has come to know God personally and has received God's personally and has received God's personally and has received God's compassion and his in his or her life compassion and his in his or her life compassion and his in his or her life can testify that that is not an unfair can testify that that is not an unfair can testify that that is not an unfair request. At least not difficult in request. At least not difficult in request. At least not difficult in theory to believe and to accept. theory to believe and to accept. theory to believe and to accept. God's people then in Jonah's day, God's God's people then in Jonah's day, God's God's people then in Jonah's day, God's people before Jonah's day, God's people people before Jonah's day, God's people people before Jonah's day, God's people today long after Jonah's day are to today long after Jonah's day are to today long after Jonah's day are to proclaim God's compassion to all. That proclaim God's compassion to all. That proclaim God's compassion to all. That remains a basic truth for Godf following remains a basic truth for Godf following remains a basic truth for Godf following Bible believing Christians today. Don't Bible believing Christians today. Don't Bible believing Christians today. Don't forget that forget that forget that as we listen to the the storm incident as we listen to the the storm incident as we listen to the the storm incident and the gobling fish and and the city and the gobling fish and and the city and the gobling fish and and the city revival, don't forget that truth. The revival, don't forget that truth. The revival, don't forget that truth. The commission to go remains loud and clear.

commission to go remains loud and clear. commission to go remains loud and clear. Jesus's final parting words in Matthew Jesus's final parting words in Matthew Jesus's final parting words in Matthew 28. We call it the great commission. 28. We call it the great commission. 28. We call it the great commission. It's a great commission to the cultures It's a great commission to the cultures It's a great commission to the cultures of the world to proclaim Christ a of the world to proclaim Christ a of the world to proclaim Christ a message of compassion. message of compassion. message of compassion. Matthew 28, go Matthew 28, go Matthew 28, go make disciples of all nations. [snorts] make disciples of all nations. [snorts] make disciples of all nations. [snorts] Make disciples of all cultures. Make disciples of all cultures. Make disciples of all cultures. That's Jesus' version articulating what That's Jesus' version articulating what That's Jesus' version articulating what Jonah heard there at the beginning of Jonah heard there at the beginning of Jonah heard there at the beginning of verse two. Go to the great city of verse two. Go to the great city of verse two. Go to the great city of Nineveh. Nineveh. Nineveh. God's people are going people. Always God's people are going people. Always God's people are going people. Always going people.