If you have not heard the Story of Jonah told by the daughter of Lindsey Douglas, you are in for a treat! Listen to the heart of a precious child who makes this blog very understandable!
It was not the sin and corruption of the Ninevites, although those were great. It was not the graft-ridden police force or corrupt politicians. It was not the false cults and religions. The biggest obstacle to the salvation of Nineveh was found in the heart of a pious, prejudiced man named Jonah! There was no deceitfulness in all of Nineveh like the deceitfulness in Jonah’s heart. Jonah was the key to the salvation of Nineveh. God’s people are the key to the spiritual climate of our nation and the world.” George Sweeting
Deceitfulness comes from a secret lust. It is a result of a long sin pattern.
Jonah was foolish enough to argue with God! He thought he could run away from God…
Do you ever feel that way?
Jonah deceived himself! His prejudice against a people he was called to preach repentance caused his downfall. His job was to take the message of God to Nineveh, the capitol of Assyria. The Assyrians were old enemies of Israel and he was not fond of these people and did not want salvation for an enemy, among other things. So he decided to run from God…
Have you ever felt the call of God to do something that was inconvenient
or outside your comfort zone?
Did you rationalize your situation and argue with God or did you instantly obey?
Rationalizing the clear “prompting voice” away is difficult the first time, but gets easier as we pass the responsibility onto another person or time causes the prompting voice to almost disappear. Rationalizationis nothing more than allowing my mind to find reasons to excuse what my spirit already knows is wrong.Rom. 2:21
Jonah was disobedient to God’s request and he reaped the consequence. His willfulness not only caused problems for him but for others…sin has a way of doing that!
Do these work for you?
It is obedience to all the Ten Commandmentsor none of them.
If we disobey one, we disobey all!
We only deceive ourselves by believing the lies that come with rationalizing our sin:
I will do it later…
I am too busy right now…
I will only eat one bite!
I can stop any time I want…
I can do it myself and I can do it my way…
I exercised poor judgment…
I made a mistake…
It was poor communication…
I couldn’t help it…
Nobody’s perfect…
I just can’t help myself…
It wasn’t that bad!
I am a victim of my circumstances…vs. I totally take full responsibility
You fill in the blank…what excuse do you use most frequently…?
Jonah missed the blessing by disobeying God. He repented but his sin still carried a consequence.
How do you reply when God speaks to you?
Do you instantly respond to the initial promptings of His Spirit
or do you silently argue with God, rationalizing?
Obedienceis following God-given instructions under the protection of God-given authority so the one being served will be fully satisfied. Like Jonah, God gives each of us a choice multiple times…daily.
11 Cor. 10: 15
Do we answer God’s call like the little girl responded on the video?
“I’m listening…I’m on my way!”
Someone said “An intelligent person can rationalize anything, a wise person doesn’t try!!”
