Surprised By Love | Jonah and the Whale | Pastor Steve Andres

Are you surprised by the love of God? This weekend Pastor Steve wrapped up our JONAH AND THE WHALE series with a message about God's compassion. Jonah 4:11But the Lord said, “Should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left?”Jonah was wrestling with understanding God’s love for Nineveh. God was patiently trying to help Jonah understand:1) The PRODIGAL love of God.Prodigal is a word that means wild or lavish. To Jonah, God’s compassion for Nineveh seems misdirected, but that just shows Jonah didn’t understand how undeserving he was of God’s compassion. Surprise is the right response to God’s love for us sinners!2) The PATIENT love of God.God has patience with Jonah as he stumbles again and again. He doesn’t appreciate how forgiving God has been toward him.2 Peter 3:9The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.How patient is the love of God? We might be wrong for a lifetime, and God will still give us an opportunity to get right. 3) The PERSISTENT love of God.Jonah rationalized his anger and resentment. But God sent the storm, the whale, the tree, the worm and the wind to change Jonah's thinking.This kind of love comes only from God, and so it has to be received before it can be shared with others. Have you been surprised by the love of God?