Jonah Moments ~ Part 1
Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. (Jonah 2:8)
What’s God been doing in your life?
Ever notice how quickly Monday comes! I pray these times of reflection on Monday will remind you to stop and respond to God’s faithfulness in your life. Take a look around you and take time to see how God has been faithful to you! God continues to work in marvelous ways in our lives, even when we don’t understand the work that He is doing. May this moment be a moment to celebrate the work of God! The work that only He can do! Please find time to praise Him for His continuous work in your life! Drop me a note and let me know how God has been faithful to you. I always enjoy hearing from you!
I’m excited to share with you what God has done in my life this last week. Honestly, God’s been giving me a good dose of reality. The above verse has convicted me in a profound way. It was refreshed in my memory this last Sunday when my pastor was preaching his 3rd sermon in the Jonah series. I wanted to memorize it and study it for the week to come. I would love to give you the background and history of all that was going on in Jonah’s life at this time, but that would be a huge devotional. If you want all of this information, then I urge you to listen to the sermon series Jonah. You will not regret it!
Basically, Jonah had been given a call from God to go and give a message to Nineveh. He was a prophet, so this was the norm in his life. He had received messages like this in the past from God, the only thing different this time was his response. The Bible says he ran. He wanted to actually flee from God’s presence, as if that’s possible. He chartered a ship and left for Tarshish. He went in the opposite direction that God had called him in. In fact, he went about 6 months journey from Nineveh. He really wanted to get away! How many of us have run when God asked something of us? It’s not always easy to forgive, to love, to turn the other cheek, to turn away from sin, and just embrace God’s best! Sometimes we get the Jonah-Run mentality! Unfortunately, no matter how fast you run or how far you run, you can’t escape God!
The story continues with a storm that arose and the storm brought fear to everyone on the ship. Everyone, but Jonah that is. He was sound asleep. The sailors started crying out to their gods to save them. Nothing was working, so they started throwing their cargo overboard. The very thing that supplied the needs of their family and their household. After this didn’t work, they cast lots to see who was responsible for the storm. The lot fell on Jonah, so they woke him up and asked him to call on his God. Surely, he had a better answer for this storm. Well, Jonah gives even a better solution. He offers to be thrown overboard since he is the cause of this storm; the cause of the pain that the sailors are suffering. Has your storm ever caused pain for someone in your life?
As soon as Jonah was thrown overboard, the storm subsided. The sailors knew that the Lord was the One to be praised, so they made vows to Him. Will our storms offer an opportunity for someone to see God?
For the rest of this devotional, you will have to tune in tomorrow!
Challenge: Read Jonah 1
Apply the Word: What does your Nineveh look like? Is there an area of your life that needs to be surrendered to God? Will you be obedient to His Word?
Memory Verse: Jonah 2:8
Dear Father God, Thank You for Your living and active Word that continues to be a lamp unto my feet. I’m so blessed to have Your guidance in my life. Please help me to identify the areas in my life where I am being disobedient to Your Word. May I continue to seek Your best!
Truly Yours,
Hi Sarah I enjoyed reading your study on Jonah. Why is it when I know that I can’t be happy other than in God’s will, I still have a problem being obedient to what He asks of me. Must be part of the old nature. I’m thankful God is patient with me and always help me through the tough spots. Thanks for the encouragement today.
Hi Galen,
It’s good to hear from you. That old nature is pretty sneaky. It’s so important to memorize and study God’s Word. It’s a daily process to renew our minds in Christ and place the old nature at the foot of the cross. Remember what Paul said,
“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do….For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.” ~Romans 7:15, 18
Please take time to read all of Romans 7:7-25 and Romans 8. It’s a daily struggle to conquer the sin in our lives. But you can overcome this sin pattern of going back to the old nature. God has declared that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. You don’t live according to the law any longer. You are free! May you find freedom in the Lord and see that He has some beautiful things awaiting you.
It is great to see your growth in the Lord. May God continue to watch over you and guide you in all that He would have you become! Find strength in the Lord to be the man He has called you to be!
“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of this world. On the contrary, they have the divine power to demolish strongholds.” ~2 Corinthians 10:3-4
In His Grip of Grace,
Sarah
Excellent post we all have area’s in which God want to take but like Jonah we jump bail and run to other things. But as I say you can only run from God for so long,.
It’s so true! I think there is a little of Jonah in all of us. I’m just so glad that God doesn’t let us run forever. I love it when He opens His arms so wide and embraces us in a way that only a Loving Father can embrace us. He continues to amaze me, as He convicts me of the very Jonah moments in my life. Praise God for the constant renewal that comes through the Holy Spirit!