Lessons from Jonah (pt. 1)

Jonah (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jonah+1&version=NLT)

As I was reading Jonah this week and have been pondering over this story I have known for quiet some time, I have some thoughts I would like to share. Today I will focus on three truths from Chapter 1:

1. God told Jonah to go to Ninevah, and instead Jonah diliberately went in the opposite direction.

Now, let's not be haters here and slam Jonah for his stupidity because the reality is... we do that SAME thing. Maybe not physically, but spiritually. God may put it on our hearts to do something and we may fail to do it. Or, God may tell us to stop doing something and we continue to do it (which is going in the opposite direction God wants us to go). I don't know about you, but I screw up fairly often. Let's get one thing clear- just because we are all screw up's doesn't mean we should continue to mess up because it's 'normal.' Part of journeying with Christ is to continually be a work in progress, and allowing His strength to be our strength to overcome our screw ups.

 2. Disobedience causes troubles.

Why was the storms raging? Disobedience. If Jonah had been where God had called Him to go, storms would not be raging around the boat. In our life, sometimes we blame God or our circumanstance for problems-when in fact- it's because of our disobedience. Let me use myself as an example. My sophomore year in college I knew God had called me to a different school, but because I am stubborn, I didn't listen. I was miserable and depressed, spiritually dry, and felt so empty almost the entire year... why? I wasn't where God had called me to be and I knew it. Was it God's plan for me to be depressed and empty, no. But because he allows us to chose, sometimes that means we chose to be miserable and he says "Ok, if that is what you chose."

3. God can use any circumstance to bring glory to his name!

Jonah, the runway prophet, is thrusted out into the sea and suddenly peace. The waters immediately calm. And in that moment the men on the ship realize the Lord is all-powerful and begin to worship him. The NLT words are "They vowed to serve Him." In the midst of our lives, God can use any circumstance and situation, because that is how incredibly powerful He is!

Thought to Ponder: What has God asked me to do and how am I responding?