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“I can’t stand that guy, Phil in the mailroom!” Debra said, storming into the break room at the office one Thursday morning. “He gets on my last nerve!” “Whoa! Calm down,” Margie answered. “What has Phil done to get you so upset?” “He is judging me, that’s what,” Debra replied. “I was just making conversation, telling him what a great service we had at church and he started saying I went to the wrong church. He said we didn’t do everything right and that God couldn’t be at my church. Imagine that!” “Yes, that’s tough. We don’t just have problems with people that aren’t Christians but sometimes with people who say they are.” “Well, Phil can’t be a Christian. He is not acting like Jesus.” “We don’t know that for sure and we don’t want to judge. It sounds like he has been taught wrong and needs guidance. That reminds me of the story of Jonah in the Old Testament.” “The guy swallowed by the whale?” Debra asked. “Yes, that part of the story is told but do you know he prayed while in the whale? He didn’t think the people of Nineveh could change and didn’t want to go and witness to them. God knew they could change and when Jonah ran the other way, He sent a storm and a whale to give Jonah time to think.” Margie turned to the book of Jonah in the Message Bible and read: “In trouble, deep trouble, I prayed to God. He answered me. From the belly of the grave I cried, ‘Help!’ You heard my cry. You threw me into ocean’s depths, into a watery grave, with ocean waves, ocean breakers crashing over me. I said, ‘I’ve been thrown away, thrown out, out of your sight. I’ll never again lay eyes on your Holy Temple.’ Oceans gripped me by the throat, the ancient Abyss grabbed me and held tight. My head was all tangled in seaweed at the bottom of the sea where the mountains take root. I was as far down as a body can go, and the gates were slamming shut behind me forever—yet you pulled me up from that grave alive, O God, my God! When my life was slipping away, I remembered God, and my prayer got through to you, made it all the way to your Holy Temple. Those who worship hollow gods, god-frauds, walk away from their only true love. But I’m worshiping you, God, calling out in thanksgiving! And I’ll do what I promised I’d do! Salvation belongs to God!” Jonah 2:2-9 “I have heard the story,” Debra commented, “but I didn’t realize that he prayed such a heart felt prayer. I guess storms and whales can do that to you.” “I believe God wanted to just see Jonah obey and not put him through all that. Jonah chose not to reach out to those in need. Phil is in need, don’t you think?” Debra thought for a moment, pondering what Margie was saying. “But he is a Christian, not someone from Nineveh. He should know better.” “We all should know better but we continue to sin and judge and criticize. I’m glad God is merciful to us in spite of all we do.” “That is true,” Debra conceded. “I guess I need to give Phil another chance.” “Now you don’t have to open yourself up to criticism or argue with him, especially if he is not listening. Instead of talking about church, just be kind and loving to him and not judgmental and maybe one day he will ask you why you are different. Then you can stand ready with the answer.” “What if he doesn’t change?” “Well, if he doesn’t change, it’s not your fault. I can promise that you will change however. We always change when we esteem others better than ourselves. God gives grace to the humble.” “I can use all the grace I can get,” Debra agreed as she walked back to her desk. “I will be like Jesus as much as possible when I am around Phil and everyone else...”
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