OBEDIENCE TO HIS COMMANDS

OBEDIENCE TO HIS COMMANDS

Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up.— Jonah 1:4

Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.— Jonah 1:17

And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.—Jonah 2:19

Then the Lord God provided a leafy plant and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant. But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered. —Jonah 4:6-7

            The Lord God Almighty is just that— the Almighty.  He commands and so it happens.  He commanded the wind and it created such a violent storm that the ship Jonah was on was in danger of breaking up.  He commanded a huge fish to swallow Jonah and the fish did exactly that—gulp and he was “in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.”  The Lord then commanded the fish “and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.”  Then the Lord commanded and made a leafy plant to “grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head.”  On the next day the Lord commanded a worm to chew “chewed the plant so that it withered.”

            Yes, the Lord God Almighty commands and wind, creatures and plants immediately obey.  The wind obeyed.  The fish obeyed. The plant obeyed and the worm obeyed.  The only disobedience in this historical narrative came from Jonah— a worshipper of “the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land” (Jonah 1:9).

            The fearful disciples of Jesus marveled when “he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.”  The disciples asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” (Matthew 8:23-27).  Yes, He commands the winds to stop and they did.  He commanded the dead to rise and they did (John 11:43).  He commanded the demons and they obeyed (Mark 9:25).

            It seems many times that the ones who do not yield to what He commands are people, even those who worship Him.  What is the Lord God Almighty commanding you to do and you are resisting?  “Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins” (Ecclesiastes 7:20).  It is amazing that of all creation it is man, even those who know Him who have a tendency not to be obedient to Him.  Are you following ALL the Lord desires of you?  Are you absolutely obedient in the work He has prepared for you? (Ephesians 2:10).  Are you zealous in those works (Titus 2:14).  If we are honest with ourselves we know we do not follow the Lord perfectly.  Let us rejoice that we are perfect in Him.  Otherwise none of us could really know Him or be with Him in heaven one day.  Thank God for His mercy and grace He has given us through Jesus.  May we truly seek to be faithful to Him.

Yes Dear Father in heaven, this is my desire that I might honor You.  May this be so in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obi5ZGujiuU