Rhythm: The Fourth Week in January
Jonah 3:1-5, 10
The Lord’s word came to Jonah a second time: 2 “Get up and go to Nineveh, that great city, and declare against it the proclamation that I am commanding you.” 3 And Jonah got up and went to Nineveh, according to the Lord’s word. (Now Nineveh was indeed an enormous city, a three days’ walk across.)
4 Jonah started into the city, walking one day, and he cried out, “Just forty days more and Nineveh will be overthrown!” 5 And the people of Nineveh believed God. They proclaimed a fast and put on mourning clothes, from the greatest of them to the least significant.
10 God saw what they were doing—that they had ceased their evil behavior. So God stopped planning to destroy them, and he didn’t do it.
Psalm 62:5-12
5 Oh, Io must find rest in God only
because my hope comes from him!
6 Only God is my rock and my salvation—
my stronghold!—I will not be shaken.
7 My deliverance and glory depend on God.
God is my strong rock.
My refuge is in God.
8 All you people: Trust in him at all times!
Pour out your hearts before him!
God is our refuge!
9 Human beings are nothing but a breath.
Human beings are nothing but lies.
They don’t even register on a scale;
taken all together
they are lighter than a breath!
10 Don’t trust in violence;
don’t set false hopes in robbery.
When wealth bears fruit,
don’t set your heart on it.
11 God has spoken one thing—
make it two things—
that I myself have heard:
that strength belongs to God,
12 and faithful love comes from you,
my Lord—
and that you will repay
everyone according to their deeds.
1 Corinthians 7:29-31
29 This is what I’m saying, brothers and sisters: The time has drawn short. From now on, those who have wives should be like people who don’t have them. 30 Those who are sad should be like people who aren’t crying. Those who are happy should be like people who aren’t happy. Those who buy something should be like people who don’t have possessions. 31 Those who use the world should be like people who aren’t preoccupied with it, because this world in its present form is passing away.
Mark 1:14-20
14 After John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee announcing God’s good news, 15 saying, “Now is the time! Here comes God’s kingdom! Change your hearts and lives, and trust this good news!”
16 As Jesus passed alongside the Galilee Sea, he saw two brothers, Simon and Andrew, throwing fishing nets into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17 “Come, follow me,” he said, “and I’ll show you how to fish for people.” 18 Right away, they left their nets and followed him. 19 After going a little farther, he saw James and John, Zebedee’s sons, in their boat repairing the fishing nets. 20 At that very moment he called them. They followed him, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired workers.
We Read…
What does it look like to have our lives reoriented by God? When we say yes to a relationship with God, our lives should look different than before. God sees and accepts our repentance, but part of that should include turning around, changing what we’ve done wrong, and living a new life for God. Jonah told the Ninevites that they must repent and turn away from their wicked lives, and when the Ninevites followed through, God saw and did not destroy them. How are we letting God change and shape our lives? Do we reflect a new life centered on God?
In Mark, Jesus began to proclaim the good news. When people heard and accepted it, this good news changed their lives in more than just spiritual ways. They had a new purpose, new callings! When we encounter Jesus, our lives will be impacted. Our plans may look different; our goals may shift because we now live for Christ. Our hope is in God, not in the world, not in ourselves.
We Think…
• What stands out to you in these verses?
• Does anything confuse you or not make sense?
• How do these verses compare to your own experience in life or in the church?
• What are you considering? What questions come to mind?
We Feel…
• What emotions are you experiencing today? How are you making space for these feelings?
• Where have you seen God today or this week?
• What is pointing you to God (maybe it is something in creation, maybe a friend or adult that cares for you)?
• What has God made new in your life? In your heart?
• Where have you experienced God’s reorientation?
We Believe…
In the passage from 1 Corinthians, we see Paul saying the time is growing short. At the time of his writing, Paul believed that Jesus would return in a few years. But here we are, over 2000 years later, and Jesus still hasn’t returned. This shouldn’t take away from what Paul was saying, though. We believe that eventually, God will return and make all things new. However, we don’t know the day or time and don’t try to say that this is happening right now. We shouldn’t worry about figuring out these details, either. Rather, we should live as Paul has called us to live by letting Jesus be the center of every part of our lives.
We Practice…
Take time to reflect on how you have turned towards God.
• What in your life has changed since saying yes to Jesus?
• Is there anything that you are holding back, anything negative that you haven’t been willing to give up?
This week, we repent together and ask for God’s forgiveness for the things we have held back, for the times we have been too afraid to move. Pray for God’s boldness to follow, even when it is hard. Know that God forgives, strengthens, and loves us through it all.
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