S - 2 Tim. 221 - "a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master"
O - Both Jonah and Timothy are servants of God with a specific call on their lives, and both are "useful for the Master". Jonah had the call and gifting of the prophet, and Timothy was called to be a teacher and pastor. Jonah was confident, strong-willed, judgemental, and was an angry, volatile person. Timothy, on the other hand, seems far more gentle, merciful, and stable, but may have been more timid and passive. Paul felt a need to encourage him and push him forward a bit. Both may have been reluctant servants of God, but for entirely different reasons. Jonah needed to be redirected, sometimes forcibly, and Timothy needed to be gently pushed forward. You may see this in your children: one who is into everything and very strong willed, and another who is more teachable, but unsure of herself.
A - The lesson I learn from this is to remember that we are all individuals and what ministers to or motivates one person, may not be effective with another.
P - Lord, I thank you that you know each one of us and what we need. I thank you for your mercy and patience and the many opportunities that you give us to make up for wrong choices and missed opportunities. I thank you that you treat us as individuals, and I pray that we will not forget to treat others that way. Sharpen our insight to seeing and appreciating each others strengths, and may we be patient and understanding of the weaknesses of others, just as we would want others to treat us.
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Spoken by my friend - who is teaching me to be more accepting of others! I thank you for that gift in my life, Sue. Well said :)
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