OBEDIENTLY BRING HIS MESSAGE!

OBEDIENTLY BRING HIS MESSAGE!

The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”  But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord. —Jonah 1:1-3

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

Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them. —Jonah 2:8

Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”  Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. —Jonah 3:1-3

But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?” —Jonah 4:10-11

             What has our Lord called you to?  Are you being obedient to that call?  Or, are you running in the opposite direction from which our Lord has called you to go?  Consider those our Lord desires you to go to.  Do you dislike them and so you are not going?  Do you care more about plants than people?  How much are you willing to pay to flee from faithful service to God?

             Jonah cost the sailors on their ship their entire cargo because of his disobedience.  He put those sea-faring men at risk because of his waywardness.  Those men were in emotional turmoil when they threw Jonah overboard.  Yet, it was those sailors that turned to the Lord and called on His Name.  Thankfully, God can work through our worst moments to impact the lives of others for His glory.

             It was only when Jonah was in the belly of the fish that he concluded that “Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them.”  God loves His children and He has our best interests in mind.  Why would we turn away from those?  Well, God is merciful and gracious and gave Jonah another opportunity— “Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”  Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYZw0dfLmLk&t=1s

             Still, Jonah’s attitude toward the Ninevites was not right and when they responded to the message he proclaimed, he was not happy.  Jonah was more concerned about the plant’s death that gave him shade than for “the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?”  Jonah was actually angry that God showed His favor upon these people and the whole city repented.  Jonah should have been overjoyed… but He wasn’t! 

             So, what is our attitude toward the lost God has called us to share the gospel with and make disciples of?  Like Jonah… are we going in the opposite direction or are we going to share God’s Word with them.  Do we care about their destiny?  Or, like Jonah, uncaring?  Dear Father, may we be like Jesus who came to seek and save the lost— whoever they were/are.  Yes, may we do so by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus who loves us!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsathUyznTw