Wednesday after the Eighth Sunday after Trinity, 8/16/00

Jonah 2: 1-6 >From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the LORD his God. He said: "In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help, and you listened to my cry. You hurled me into the deep, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me. I said, `I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple. The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head. To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you brought my life up from the pit, O LORD my God. --NIV

In the name of the One Who brings our life up from the pit, amen.

The Russian Submarine Kursk lies damaged on the bottom of the Barents Sea. Will the submariners escape death? Think of the desperate thoughts that must go through their minds. Think of the words they wish they had said to loved ones, and even to enemies. Will they get a second chance? The latest news is that there are no signs of life detected on board.

Jonah lay trapped at the bottom of the ocean and it was totally his own fault. He rebelled against the grace of God. He wanted his enemies punished. He did not want to preach to them the words that would result in their turning from their sins and being saved. But God gave him a second chance, and showed him that God wants to save even His enemies.

Many people lay at the bottom of a spiritual sea. Their situation seems hopeless. But it is not. Their salvation is in Christ. He can bring them up from the pit of death and despair right now, just like He will raise them from the dead one day. This is the hope for all people. Amen.

Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, there are times when we rebel against You, and you cast us into the sea of despair. Father, forgive us for our rebellion. Lift us up out of despair just as you lifted Jonah out of despair. Heavenly Father we also ask for Your mercy on the trapped submariners. Bring them up from the deep if that is Your will. Above all, comfort them by Your holy Gospel, and give them eternal life in the resurrection. We ask this in Jesus' name, amen.

Copyright 2000 Reformation Lutheran Church http://ReformationChurch.org _________________________________________