“Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass” (I Thessalonians 5:24).
The story of Jonah about a prophet sent to the city of Nineveh with a call for the people to turn back to God is instructive as then on several grounds. First, it reveals a God who is interested in human affairs, that He picks up someone to warn a nation of impending doom if it does not yield and change her ways.
Then, secondly, in an interesting twist, the person given the task shuns the idea, preferring to “mind his own business”! What happens thereafter is just as revealing. Troubles befell Jonah, but not only him, even those whom he had taken refuge to ( Jonah 1:4-5).
Hereto, we see that Jonah’s disobedience has not only consequences for him but also those others around him. One persons folly can sometimes cause grief to many other innoncent people close.
Ultimately Jonah makes good and returns to the city of Nineveh to call it to repentance. “When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened” ( Jonah 3:10).
Just as it were, there is always someone God is calling to do His work for a time. And just as then any could reject. Because God loves His people He will cause a set of circumstances for that person to yield back to His call. In the case of Jonah it was a severe storm on the seas. But for others there are different storms meant to get their attention. Such could be roadblocks in the way and it’s quite clear one has to make a U turn for there is no way ahead!
Prayer today: Lord father God of creation, as you had to bring a storm for Jonah to turn around and do your will, and so I pray I may obedient to your call, for you are a faithful God!
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02/05/2024 - 03/05/2024 All day“That is why for Christ’s sake I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor 12:10)
We all crave to be blessed in life. But was there a believer who was so blessed beyond any circumstances without experiencing some sort of discomfort, in one way or another! A person may apparently be blessed in every single way yet have one troubling matter that constantly drives him down to his knees.
The one mightily blessed with riches may have a family situation that leaves him ever on edge. Someone who seems to be at the height of his profession may be living with an ailment that keeps him ever on tentacles. The one blessed with abundant health might from time to time be dealing with financial woes.
Why do such troubling situations plague even believers? One explanation could be found in the Apostle Paul’s life. Called into ministry and endowed with many gifts, including amazing revelations from above, yet he had a matter that constantly drove him on his knees. “Therefore in order to keep me from being conceited, I was given a thorn in the flesh, a messenger from Satan, to torment me” (2 Cor 12: 7).
Paul would often cry out to God to free him of this particularly troubling matter. But the Lord came back with, “My grace is sufficient for you. For my power is made perfect in your weakness” (2 Cor 12: 9).
The comfort of this lesson is that God is completely aware of whatever might be ever troubling us. Moreover, it could be purposely there, that we constantly place our faith in Him, other than relying on our strength and resources, especially as He blesses us in other uplifting ways.
Prayer for today: Lord Father in heaven, today I pray that whatever matter is constantly troubling me, I know it is for a purpose and you are in total control, to bless me even more, this I pray in Jesus’ name.
