JUDGE, JURY & EXECUTIONER
Today's reading: Jonah

"This change of plans upset Jonah, and he became very angry. So he complained to the Lord about it: Didn't I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you were a gracious and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. I knew how easily you could cancel your plans for destroying these people. Just kill me now, Lord! I'd rather be dead than alive because nothing I predicted is going to happen." Jonah 4:1-3 NLT

Conviction? This early in the morning, Lord? Honestly. Reading these verses were nothing short of having a mirror installed in my Bible. Why not, all those years ago, put my name in there instead of Jonah's?

An attitude check has been made--and I came up short, very short, of the mark you set for me.

I, like Jonah, have decided some folks have fallen off the radar screen of your grace.

I have written several off as undeserving.

There are those I consider unworthy, unlovely, unlikable and uncouth.

And this morning? Those folks aren't the ones sitting under conviction--it's me. Here I am, in your presence, smelling like a three day-old tunafish sandwich. I'm pouting in the desert I've made for myself under a shade tree you've provided.

Who do I think I am? Nothing short of your love has saved me. No one, myself included, truly deserves it.

Thanks, Lord. Thanks for reminding me of who I really am!