Good Morning Friends,
Today’s lectionary brings us Jonah’s flight from God, Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan, and Paul’s reminder in Galatians that salvation comes only through the true gospel of Christ. Together they help us to answer the central question: How will we be saved?
Scripture Summary
Jonah 1–2: God sends Jonah to preach in Nineveh, but Jonah runs the opposite direction. A violent storm threatens the ship, and the sailors discover Jonah is the cause. Jonah tells them to throw him overboard, and when they do, the sea calms. God sends a great fish to swallow Jonah, and from its belly Jonah prays, “Out of my distress, you answered me.”
Luke 10:25–37: A lawyer asks Jesus how to inherit eternal life. Jesus affirms the command to love God and neighbor, then tells the story of a man beaten on the Jericho Road. Religious leaders pass him by, but a Samaritan stops, tends his wounds, and pays for his care. Jesus concludes: the true neighbor is the one who shows mercy.
Acts 16:30–31: A jailer asks Paul and Silas, “What must I do to be saved?” Their answer is simple: Believe in the Lord Jesus.
Galatians 1:6–12: Paul warns the church not to accept any distorted version of the gospel. The true gospel is revealed by Jesus Christ and rooted in grace—not human approval or legalism.
Message: Whether facing a storm at sea like Jonah or lying wounded on the Jericho Road, Scripture shows us that divine help is essential. We are no different. Sin, fear, and life’s storms remind us that we cannot save ourselves, yet God provides a way through Jesus.
Some of us resist God like Jonah. Some overlook suffering like the priest and Levite. Some quietly show mercy like the Samaritan. Some, like the lawyer, think salvation comes through power or religious status. But the gospel is simpler and deeper: God loves the world, and Jesus’ sacrifice frees us from sin, death, and fear. Jesus assumes our burden.
And So, We each have a Nineveh to face. We each have neighbors to love. And we each have a story of how God meets us in storms, on dangerous roads, and in unexpected places. Salvation begins when we believe in Jesus—and continues as we share His love in practical, courageous ways.
Pray we believe in Jesus. Pray we become neighbors who grow through pain and help others grow. Pray we care for the outcast and embody mercy. Pray we use our blessings well on the journey. Pray we trust Jesus to forgive our sins and glorify God in our living. Pray we recognize God’s sovereignty and respond when He gets our attention. Pray our story becomes a witness to God’s saving love. Pray our love and God’s love unite to free others from fear.
Blessings,
John Lawson
