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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 will make 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 the 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 own downfall. Sound familiar? His job was to take the message of God to Nineveh, the capital 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…
We are called to stand in the gap for those lost and in need. Have you ever felt the call of God to do something that was inconvenient or outside your “wheelhouse”? 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. Rationalization is nothing more than allowing my mind to find reasons to excuse what my spirit already knows is wrong. Romans 2: 21
As a people, we are in dire need of accepting responsibility, stepping up to the plate, letting our voice be heard and recognizing the fact that we are the key to change in the spiritual climate of our homes, communities and nation.
Jonah was disobedient to his calling and he reaped the consequence.
His willfulness not only caused problems for him, but others…sin has a way of doing that!
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 exercised poor judgement…
I can do it myself and I can do it my way…
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 or I take full responsibility
What excuse do you use most frequently?
An intelligent person can rationalize anything, a wise person doesn’t try!
Jen Knox
Obedience is 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 time…daily! II Cor. 10: 15
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 argue with God…rationalizing?
When you rationalize, you do just that. You make “rational lies”!
~Jackie Johnson - I am a former tribal missionary to the Kuna Indians on the Colombian border in Central America. Fluent in several languages, my husband and I currently pastor a Spanish-speaking church in Southern California. My passion is mentoring and equipping dedicated young women for life, marriage, motherhood, and beyond. I am the mother of two daughters and the grandmother of three Princesses and four young Knights.
