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This week we are going to wrap up our mini-series. We have been discussing Jonah and how his selfish decisions affected those around him. This week we are going to look at two more consequences of his actions.
Jonah’s disobedience caused peril to a group of innocent people. The story of Jonah is one of my favorites when it comes to talking about consequences. We often look at how Jonah was swallowed by the fish and then how he eventually went on to Nineveh, but we can also overlook the lives he disrupted through disobedience. Our decisions very rarely affect only us. Everybody on that ship was in great danger for the sin of one man. Those people were living their normal lives and were subjected to God’s wrath. I would challenge everyone to think of those that you will affect when you disobey God’s word. God is calling us to break generational curses and create better for our families and coworkers and friends and churches but when we try to do things our way, or on our time, we could be endangering them physically, mentally, or even spiritually.
The last thing is that, although his disobedience endangered the men on the ship, God still got the glory because when the men saw the power of God, they vowed to worship him. If it is one thing you can count on, it is that God will take what is bad and turn it for good. Jonah was going to preach God’s word to Nineveh whether he liked it or not. The city was going to be saved because they were smart enough to heed God’s warning through Jonah but because he did the opposite thing first, more people were saved, and God got even more glory.
Jonah was blatantly disobedient. He heard a word and did the opposite. That is a textbook example of disobedience. But even though Jonah temporarily put the people on the ship in danger, he indirectly gave them the best gift he ever could have, the gift of salvation. As we end this section about Jonah, I would ask that you stay sensitive to what God says to you, move when He says move, move where He says move, and move how He says move. You will never fully know how many lives are relying on you and how many blessings are flowing through your obedience.
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I know that most people are in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the season, but December always reminds me to slow down and reflect. It’s something about the cold weather that forces me to cozy up and sit still… I believe the stillness opens
With a little over 30 days left in the year, it’s easy to put a pin in new ideas or projects until the new year. As tempting as enjoying the pause may be, there are some things that we have been called to do that require our action now. Spiritual callings require our steadfast attention, not temporary devotion when our schedules allow. In this season, the Lord has been challenging me to finish well.
In a culture that values purpose and spiritual gifting, it’s interesting how quickly we toss them to the side when we’re fatigued or distracted. We yield to the flesh instead of the Holy Spirit’s guidance. We abandon how we show up out of convenience; missing opportunities to share the Gospel or be the hands and feet of Christ. Simply put, we fail to finish well.
El Roi. The God who sees me. When we talk about Hagar, we often refer to this tender exchange. This exact moment in the wilderness when she encounters God… when she accepts correction and instruction to return to a tense situation… when she receives the promise concerning the son in her womb… when she recognizes that she is seen and known by name. Yes, this is a pivotal moment, marked with such a significant name, and as I began to walk through Hagar’s story, to be seen, is so much deeper than watching someone visually.
“Are you going to try for another one?”
The ink on our marriage certificate wasn’t even dry before people began to ask when my husband and I were planning on having children. This seemingly innocent question was often met with ‘we don’t know’ outwardly, but inwardly it reinforced the shame of not being able to conceive a child.
I am the one in four.
If you or someone close to you is in need, we would be honored to lift you up in prayer. We believe in the power of prayer to bring peace, comfort, and reassurance during times of hardship. Our community is ready to join together and pray as we trust in God’s love and unending grace.
