I am like Jonah. And then again I'm not. I am in no way a prophet, however maybe God speaks to me. Not maybe, He does. Like Jonah, I am afraid. I don't want to do what God wants me to. I don't even know what He wants me to do, so how could I even do "it"? Its easier to not do what God wants.
I've spent years asking everyone I can about listening to and hearing from God. I've asked a lot of people the same questions, "Does God speak to you?" and "How do you know its God?" and the biggest one "Do you listen?"...three simple words. Do you listen.
Sometimes, I was asked the same questions in return. My answer was always simply No, God does not speak to me.
And that was a lie. In the back of my mind I've always known, I just didn't want to listen.
The first time God spoke to me I knew it. From the moment it happened. I knew exactly what I needed to do, what He TOLD me to do. And I didn't do it. I didn't want to. Really, it was easier not to.
For most of my time being a believer I've been running like Jonah. For one reason or another and up until recently I thought they were good excuses. Good excuses...is there even such a thing?
People are just that...people. Human. We all make mistakes. I forget that. And because of that I've been running. I figured if I wasn't going to church, I could just avoid God. I was trying to make things way to simple...if I wasn't IN church, I didn't have to deal with God. Because it was easier. Because I was afraid.
Jonah felt that if he avoided Ninevah, he could avoid God. There is nowhere we can go to escape His presence.
No matter where you go, God is there waiting.
I've spent years asking everyone I can about listening to and hearing from God. I've asked a lot of people the same questions, "Does God speak to you?" and "How do you know its God?" and the biggest one "Do you listen?"...three simple words. Do you listen.
Sometimes, I was asked the same questions in return. My answer was always simply No, God does not speak to me.
And that was a lie. In the back of my mind I've always known, I just didn't want to listen.
The first time God spoke to me I knew it. From the moment it happened. I knew exactly what I needed to do, what He TOLD me to do. And I didn't do it. I didn't want to. Really, it was easier not to.
For most of my time being a believer I've been running like Jonah. For one reason or another and up until recently I thought they were good excuses. Good excuses...is there even such a thing?
People are just that...people. Human. We all make mistakes. I forget that. And because of that I've been running. I figured if I wasn't going to church, I could just avoid God. I was trying to make things way to simple...if I wasn't IN church, I didn't have to deal with God. Because it was easier. Because I was afraid.
Jonah felt that if he avoided Ninevah, he could avoid God. There is nowhere we can go to escape His presence.
No matter where you go, God is there waiting.
But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD. – Jonah 1:3 (NIV)
Jonah was running from the call from God to preach to Ninevah, so he tried to get as far as possible from that city. But Jonah made a common mistake; he felt that if he avoided Ninevah, he could avoid God. The story of Jonah reminds all of us that there is nowhere that we can go to escape His presence. How about you? Are you trying to escape God’s call on your life? No matter where you go, God is there waiting.
Today’s commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, GraceNYC.org
What do you think? Discuss at
http://facebook.com/
Jonah was running from the call from God to preach to Ninevah, so he tried to get as far as possible from that city. But Jonah made a common mistake; he felt that if he avoided Ninevah, he could avoid God. The story of Jonah reminds all of us that there is nowhere that we can go to escape His presence. How about you? Are you trying to escape God’s call on your life? No matter where you go, God is there waiting.
Today’s commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, GraceNYC.org
What do you think? Discuss at
http://facebook.com/
