Welcome to our final devotional on Jonah chapter 2. Throughout this chapter, we've been uncovering five signs of surrender to a sovereign God in Jonah's prayer. Today, we'll explore the fifth and final sign: a renewed understanding of grace. We'll see how Jonah comes to a profound realization about the nature of salvation, which transforms his perspective on God's mercy.
"Grace is not simply leniency when we have sinned. Grace is the enabling gift of God not to sin. Grace is power, not just pardon."
– John Piper
Jonah 2:8-10
Those who are followers of worthless idols abandon their faithfulness, 9 But I will sacrifice to You With a voice of thanksgiving. That which I have vowed I will pay. Salvation is from the Lord.” 10 Then the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah up onto the dry land.
Imagine Jonah, at the end of his rope, finally grasping a truth he had known intellectually but now understands with his whole being: salvation is entirely God's work.
This simple statement - "Salvation is from the Lord" - is a profound theological truth. Jonah recognizes that his deliverance, his very life, depends not on his own efforts or merits, but solely on God's grace.
This realization is transformative. Jonah, who had previously thought he could dictate who deserved God's mercy, now understands that salvation is God's prerogative alone. It's not about human worthiness or unworthiness - it's about God's sovereign choice to save.
Understanding grace in this way should humble us and fill us with gratitude. It removes all grounds for boasting and leaves us in awe of God's mercy. It also compels us to share this good news with others, knowing that God's grace extends even to those we might consider beyond reach.
Moreover, this renewed understanding of grace doesn't just apply to our initial salvation, but to our ongoing life with God. We continue to depend on God's grace every day for our spiritual growth and perseverance.
How does the truth that "salvation is from the Lord" change your view of your own salvation? Of others?
In what ways might you be tempted to think of your spiritual life as partly your own work? How does Jonah's realization challenge this?
How might this understanding of grace impact your willingness to share the gospel with others, even those you consider unlikely to respond?
God's grace is the source of my salvation and the power for my daily life. I live in constant gratitude for this undeserved gift.
Stay dialed in,
Jonny Ardavanis