Yesterday we left off where the men on the ship threw Jonah overboard. The sea grew calm and a great fish swallowed Jonah. A large fish could have been a huge sperm whale but the Bible doesn’t say what kind of fish. But its insides had to big enough for Jonah to breathe for three days. Supernaturally God caused the big fish to take Jonah to the exact point on the eastern side of the Mediterranean that was closest to Nineveh and then throw him up on shore. Yuk!!
We ended with a prayer last time about running from God. Can you see that God’s will, WILL be done no matter what you try to do? Whatever is done in secret will be revealed, eventually, but the biggest thing is we can’t keep running from our problems. Do you have something today that you have either put off or are running from? You know God wants you to do it but either you are too afraid or doubt that it can be done!
When Jonah was in the belly of the fish he didn’t know he was going to Nineveh. He thought his life was over. So he tried to make things right with God.
Jonah 2:8 “Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.”
So what does this mean? When we have failed miserably and we don’t have anywhere else to go but God, then and only then can restoration start. In order to renovate a house that is crumbling down you have to build a new foundation. Sometimes in our lives for our own good God starts again with us. Don’t worry if you have to start over. Just be thankful you are saved. You know, in life a lot of people can go on sinning that are not saved and not be convicted of their sin. Some may wonder why they can do all these things and not suffer. Well they will not suffer on earth but they will when they see God and their names are not written in the Lambs Book of Life. If you are saved then God will discipline you in a loving way to keep you from straying from Him.
1 Corinthians 7:23,24 “You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to”.
Tomorrow we will be talking about what happens in Nineveh but today I want to get back to where YOU are today. Some of you may be convicted of what you are doing and know what you should be doing but can’t. Either for fear of getting caught, fear of your abilities or maybe a prideful heart like Jonah. Jonah did not want his enemies saved.
So what does it mean to cling to worthless idols so that we forfeit the grace that could be ours? A number of definitions that come to mind when being looked at call Gods grace as
“Unmerited Favor”
When we least expect it, when we least deserve it, when we don’t deserve it at all God still loves us and gives us His favor. That is His Grace. But if we cling to worthless idols such as work, our kids, a hobby, money, fame and ___________ then we have put this thing or things ABOVE our love for God.
I received this email from a family member of the murdered family at the funeral I attended a couple weeks ago. God used this person to give me His grace and to show me I was on track.
“It’s funny, before I knew Christ, I would often wonder “how do people know when the Lord speaks to them? Do they actually hear His voice? Do they have something happen in their life that speaks to them through someone or something?” I now know the answer is BOTH! I know that God has spoken (and continues to speak) to so many through your devotional. Even in this time of tragedy in our family, God is speaking to all of those around us through this story. And let me just say that of all the wonderful pilots I met last week, you are the most memorable. And it’s not because of your ability to fly a plane, but rather for the work you do to spread His Word!” Andrea
Ever since I have cut off all ways of earning extra money for our ministry and TRUSTED God, the Lord has
1. Increased our readership by 300%
2. Given us what we need to make ends meet for most of this month.
3. The book is finished – Thank you Lord
4. My focus has been on God’s Kingdom and not my own.
5. I have received 100% more e mails, cards and calls from you.
I needed to be obedient and I wasn’t; much like Jonah. When God said he would provide for us I doubted especially when we had $ 2.99 in our checking with $ 2,500 in bills due. But when I cut all ties to flying, the corporate world or consulting EVERYTHING turned around. Especially peace in my soul. That is because I was taking a ship to Tarshish when I should have been going to Nineveh. God allowed a lot of sleepless nights, depression, headaches and other ailments to get my attention
BECAUSE HE LOVED ME ENOUGH TO BE PATIENT WITH ME.
Listen to me on this one. God loves YOU just as much and He desires that you have peace in your life. You may not have peace because you are running away. God may not use a large fish but He may use lack of finances, lack of a job or turmoil in other forms for you to see who is in charge:) I smile at this as I see how futile it was for me to run. If you feel far from God now or that you have failed too much then please pray this prayer with me.
“Lord I feel like I have failed you and it is tough for me to see that you still love me. I know your promises say that you do but I desire to feel it in my heart Jesus. Please forgive me for running away from you and at times I don’t even know what I am running away from. I just am tired, worn out and have no joy. Please help me Jesus to put you first in my life. Help me right now to stop running from you and to run to you. Please put my feet on firm footing and please forgive the sin in my life. Lord I am addicted to ______________ and can’t seem to get free. Please forgive me of this as I have tried to stop and I can’t. I so desperately need you today to set me free. Please save me and fill me with your Holy Spirit Jesus and protect my heart and mind from the evil one. I desire to live a life you for and not myself. Thank you Lord for forgiving and protecting me.” Amen
God is not out to harm you but to bring you back to Him, He loves you enough to do that. Nothing is more important than this so pray right now and call out to the One who loves you and desires to act on your behalf to set you free.
Have an awesome day and expect great things to happen.
Brad
