INMERSO
THE JONAH WITHIN YOU
The society in which we live is constantly sending us messages of individualism and self-improvement. We are living in a time when the "Me" is the most important thing. As Christians we should often ask ourselves; are we imitating the world or are we really obeying God in all that He has entrusted us to do?
In the Bible we can find many examples of people who at one time or another tried to manipulate God when they were called to do something. They wished to maintain their individualism. One of them was Moses. God called him from the bush and entrusted him with a task, and although he did not completely refused, he tried to present his reasons for not doing it. "I am a stutterer", was the first thing he said and then he continued to present more reasons. He wanted to negotiate with God.
What Moses and us also forget is that God cannot be mocked, nor deceived. When we begin to make excuses, we are the ones who are being harmed, because we are missing out on the blessing that comes from obeying. God knows how far we can go and how much help He needs to give us.
How many times have we seen ourselves analyzing our life and realizing that we could be better? When did our life begin to deteriorate? God has created us for a purpose and in the course of our lives we received some instruction that came from God. He ordered us to leave a relationship that was not convenient, he told us not to get ahead of ourselves to do business, he called us to serve at some point, but as we always do, our analytical mind wanted to study all the angles and possibilities that could happen if we obeyed, and found, that God instructions did not fit our plans. In that exercise we decided that we had to improve God's plan.
It is very important and I want to emphasize that when we find ourselves in that situation it is necessary to take refuge in God. Seek His presence in prayer and allow the Holy Spirit to work in our hearts. If we do not do so, the enemy will continue to feed our thoughts with more reasons and lies for not obeying. The spirit will continue to call our attention like an audible voice in our conscience, which will continue to lose strength as we continue to give excuses for not obeying. In time our hearts will become deaf to that voice and we will lose the sensitivity to feel and hear God.
Moses remained in fellowship and was convinced by God, his heart became obedient, his obedience brought benefits not only to his life but to all mankind.
On the other hand we find Jonas, called to preach to a nation that he considered his enemies, but for God they were his creation and he loved them. Jonah spared nothing to run from God's presence. He had to go north and he went south on a boat. He wanted to escape his consciousness and went to sleep in the middle of the storm. He wanted to escape his responsibility and preferred to lose his life by asking to be thrown into the sea. His stubbornness led him to the bottom of the sea inside a large fish. When he had no other options, then he spoke to God.
His heart was never willing to obey, he was forced, because God's purpose will always be fulfilled. His attitude did not let him enjoy the beauty of his work. His preaching converted thousands, an entire nation came to God's feet in obedience. He missed out on making beautiful friendships and relationships. He missed teaching about God's love to the Gentiles. He rather preferred to sit on the side of the road to wait in anger with God, a punishment that never came to be.
It is of the utmost importance for every Christian to remain in fellowship and contact with God. To some degree or another we all have a Jonah in our hearts. Whenever God calls us to do something, He moves us out of our comfort zone. It is then that we begin to analyze and analyze. If we let that Jonah take control of our thoughts, we will end up in spiritual ruin and after many lost years we will be sorry for not having obeyed God when He called us in the beginning.
God's calls and instructions are sometimes to do simple things, which at the time we do not see as important, but that over time bring blessings. God calls some of us to pastoral ministry, but we decided to set up a business, make a lot of money and donate a lot for others to go and preach. God tells us that this partner is not our partner but we marry anyway. It is unfortunate to see the consequences of disobedience. And let us remember that when we put conditions on God to obey, we are being disobedient because half-obedience is pure disobedience.
God calls us not to be individualistic or self-centered, he calls us to be different:
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God." Romans 12:2.
Obedience brings into our lives the blessings that God has appointed to give us because we fulfill the purpose for which we were created. Created to be blessed, sustained, and cared for by a loving God who only wants to give us the best.
And now I ask;
How great is the Jonah of your heart?
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