Our lesson today is still coming from the book of Jonah. So much to learn from this text. Let's get started.
SCRIPTURE TEXT: Jonah 1:3 BUT Jonah GOT UP AND WENT (in the opposite direction in order to get away from the Lord.)
TODAY'S POST: After God had commanded Jonah where to go and what to say...Jonah got up and went; BUT; see the BUT at the beginning of the scripture? But; here is indicating that something bad is going to happen. Don't you hear the music? Jonah partially obeyed God here; for those of you who like to look at things in an optimistic way; he did ACTUALLY get up to go; BUT he went in the OPPOSITE direction. OPPOSITE- meaning contrary to what was told of him. Take for example a child; if you tell them to stop, but they go instead---they are in direct disobedience to your command. Jonah was hoping to get away from what God was telling him to do. In other words he was doing what he wanted to do; because he had his own feeling/agenda about the matter. But as God's servant he was to do what his master commanded. He had excepted those terms willingly. Like we say, "Lord I will go where you want me to go, I will do what you want me to do." We too willingly make God reign as King of kings, and Lord of lord in our lives. So here Jonah violated the commanded of the Lord through partial obedience.
PARTIAL DISOBEDIENCE- is still direct disobedience. No matter the situation; if we act contrary to what God commands or tells us in His word; then we are in direct disobedience just like Jonah. We may think we can help God or maybe we may have our own agenda like Jonah did; but we can never know God's reasoning for things. God's wisdom is unmeasureable; so when we challenge God through our actions of being contrary to what he says then we are being arrogant in the face of our creator. That is like the creation telling the creator what to do. The creator made the creation; so he knows what is best. God had a purpose for sparing Nineveh and he has a purpose for what he commands us to do today. We never know how many evangelists, pastors, teachers, or missonaries came out of Nineveh; but God wanted to have compassion on them, and so he did. He is God; he can do whatever he wants to do. Our job is to be sure we are submissive to his will; even if it is our enemies like Nineveh was to Israel/Jpnah's homeland (Israel).
What can we tell God that he doesn't already know? What can we give him that he doesn't already own? But our hearts given to Him in FULL OBEDIENCE is like a sweet savor in God's nostrils. NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF WALKING IN OBEDIENCE and remember there is no such thing as partial obedience. It's either ALL or NOTHING!!!
A THOUGHT TO PONDER: What if the gospel wasn't preached to you or to your race of people because one person felt the need to share it with you because of his personal feelings? If God had let that happen; then many of us probably WON'T BE SAVED TODAY. None of deserved salvation; but God!!!! Thank you Jesus!!! Thank you Lord for overriding Jonah's decision.
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