December 19
Today's Reading: Jonah 1; Revelation 10
Today's Thoughts: Are You Going or Running?
Then the men were exceedingly afraid, and said to him, "Why have you done this?" For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them. Jonah 1:10
The Lord told Jonah to go to Nineveh and preach repentance. Jonah took off in the opposite direction, running from the Lord. Nineveh was a city of wickedness, but the Lord wanted to give the Ninevites a chance to repent from their evil ways and turn to Him. Jonah did not want anything to do with this mission and instead decided not to do what the Lord had told him. As a result, everyone on the boat that Jonah had boarded (as a way of escape) was in fear in a terrible storm that threatened their lives. They were bearing the consequences of Jonah's disobedience.
In the end, God had His way with Jonah and he went to Nineveh. The people on the boat were spared and the city of Nineveh was spared, at least for a time. Because Jonah refused to obey the Lord the first time, he put others in jeopardy. By God's grace, no one was hurt by Jonah's decisions. God dealt directly with him (The big fish that swallowed Jonah readily took care of any misconceptions about Who was really in charge.). Make no mistake about it: God is in charge. We may delay things for a period of time, but ultimately God always gets His way. The question for us is: Are we putting others in danger of being harmed by the consequences of our decisions to disobey God? If so, then we are held accountable for that too.
Has God been telling you to do something and you just keep putting it off? Are others being affected by your decision? Maybe you have jumped on a boat heading out to sea, trying to escape the Lord's words. God may let you get away with it for a season, but in time He will take control; He will have His way with you. If something is gnawing at you, or if you have any doubts about what God is telling you, then go to Him immediately and ask Him what He wants you to do. If you are afraid, He will help and comfort you. God never asks us to do anything that He has not already prepared and planned out for us. Do not delay: You never know when there is a big fish lurking about. God bless.
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