When I went to serve my first church I had no clue as to what I was doing. I loved Jesus and loved people and that was a good foundation to build on, but I was clueless about everything else. I constantly sought the wisdom of older clergy and I read the gospels to see what Jesus did. I remember searching the gospel but there is no record of Jesus conducting funerals. He only conducted resurrections. He physically raised Lazarus, Jairus’ daughter, and countless others to new life beyond their brokenness and messiness. Jonah disobeyed God and the consequences were that his life went downhill until he hit bottom and found himself fish food in the belly of a great fish. When he hits bottom, he turns to God. Sometimes you have to be flat on your back to listen, to look up. Jonah turns to God. God gave him a fresh start, a new chance. Jonah, after three days, was resurrected. God is always up to something great. When we turn to God, He delivers us from our messes, He raises us to new life, and He lets us start over. God is in the resurrection business. If you are running from God, remember God is not in the funeral business. He has not written you off. He is a God for whom all things are possible. He raised Jonah out of the belly of a whale. He can raise you, too. Maybe today is the time to turn back to Him.
– Dr. Tim Thompson