Today’s Reading:
Jonah 1:1-17
“But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the lord. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.” (v. 3)
God has an amazing way of getting our attention. When He calls us to a task in His kingdom work and we draw back from Him and seek to go our own way. When that happens, the Lord will come after us and pursue us until He brings us back to Him and to His plan for our lives. When the Lord has an assignment for you, He is determined that you carry it out. He will not just allow you to walk away while He does nothing. He will persistently and patiently work in your life until He brings you to the place where He can use you for the task He has in mind. He will do whatever He needs to do to get your attention and bring you to the place where you are willing to do what He tells you.
God told him to go and worn the city of Nineveh that judgement was coming to their town. God wanted to extend His grace to a lost and needy people, and Jonah disobeyed. He was to go and evangelize the city of Nineveh, he decided to go to Tarshish. On several occasions, God has instructed to do one thing or the other, but you refuse. Jonah seemed to think that he could escape from God’s plans by running away (Psalm 139:7-10).
If Jonah had followed God’s plan for his life, he would have been used of God in a powerful way. If he’s heart had been right with the Lord, he would not have lost his witness and damaged his testimony before these pagan sailors. If he had stayed with God’s plan, Jonah would have been in Nineveh preaching and enjoying a great revival instead of fighting for his life in a storm and having to go through whale. All those who choose their own path over God’s plan will experience trials, tribulations, disappointment, and hardship that could have been avoided.
God first send a storm to get Jonah’s attention. They had never seen a storm ferocious as this. Jonah slept right through the storm. They cast lot to discover who the vile sinner is, and Jonah was selected. Jonah suggested that they throw him overboard because he is the cause of the storm. God used this event to bring about the conversion of those pagan sailors (Jonah 1:16).
God has given all Christians the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18), to preach the good news to the poor and sinners (Mark 16:15). Will you also disobey God like Jonah? He has a suitable replacement if you disobey.
OLAJIDE OGUNFUWA
Prayer:
I destroy every spirit of disobedience in my life, in Jesus name
I will fulfill God’s plan and purpose for my life and ministry, in Jesus name.
Power to evangelize come upon me now, in Jesus name.
As a Church Leaders we will not disobey God’s command, in Jesus name.
Lord, use Nigeria as instrument of revival to save the world, in Jesus name.
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