Treasures in Heaven
(Matthew 6:19-20)
19 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal; 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven , where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal.
God always has the best plans for us!
11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11
We're starting a new year! Think about all the good things God has planned for you and your family this year!
God knows what's happening in your life now, but He also sees the future. That's why, when He tells us to do something, it's because He knows it will be good for us.
Today we will understand how God has the best plans for us through the story of Jonah.
Jonah Ended Up Inside a Big Fish
Bible Reference: Jonah 1–3
In a city called Nineveh, the people were very wicked and did many evil things. God was sad because their behavior was terrible, but He loved them and wanted to give them another chance.
So God asked Jonah to help with this mission. Yes, God uses people like us to do His work! God said:
—Jonah, go to the city of Nineveh and tell everyone that I love each one of them. Also warn them that if they do not repent and change their ways, I will have to destroy the city.
Jonah heard clearly, but he did not want to do what God had told him. He was stubborn and disobeyed God.
Do you know what he did? He got on a ship going in the opposite direction, away from Nineveh. This other city was called Tarshish.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, a very strong storm began. There was so much wind and rain that the ship was about to break into pieces. Everyone was terrified!
But Jonah was sleeping…
How could that be? The sailors and the others found it strange that Jonah was so calm, and soon they discovered that the reason for all this was Jonah’s disobedience to God. What would they do now?
Jonah, knowing that everyone might die, asked them to throw him into the sea. The men on the ship did so, and immediately the storm stopped.
But as Jonah was in the water, he suddenly came face to face with a great fish—a huge one! And do you know what happened? The fish swallowed Jonah whole!
Jonah stayed inside the belly of the fish for three days, but God kept him alive the whole time through a miracle!
Can you imagine it? It must have been very dark in there! And the smell? It must have been terrible! Did he feel sick? How disgusting! How awful! But all of this made Jonah stop and think about his stubbornness.
"Why didn't I obey God immediately? Those people of Nineveh need me, and I didn't do the right thing... Lord, will you forgive me? I promise that if I get out of here alive, I will fulfill the mission the Lord gave me."
When God realized that Jonah was willing to do the right thing, He told the fish to vomit Jonah up. I think Jonah just needed some time to sort out his thoughts, right?
So Jonah did what he had promised and went to tell the people of Nineveh about God's love. When Jonah fulfilled his part of the mission, something wonderful happened: all those people repented!
God was very happy because He loved all those people so much, just like He loves you!
What did you learn from the story of Jonah?
Even if we don't understand everything God says, we need to trust and obey. After all, He is our good Father.
The Bible always teaches us what we should do. This is because God loves us and has only wonderful plans for us.
Every day of this New Year, remember that it is always worth trusting in God, because He loves you!
It is TIME to PRAY
Father, I believe that you love me and have good plans for me. That is why I always want to obey you, because I trust in you. In Jesus' name, amen.
