God's Will - Do Not Run From the Call of God

Not only do we run away from the Lord and His sovereign will but often we question that will or be angry about what grace is shown to another. Just as Jonah must have felt the compassion showed toward Nineveh was uncalled for, we too can look at the success of another and question the Lord as to why we must seemingly struggle in comparison to others. The Lord is saying to us today; "Have you any right to be angry?" We have these feelings without all of the knowledge required. We do not know the struggles the other person may have gone through. We do not know how their walk is with God. We only know what we see, but God sees all.

 

The story of Jonah is a stark reminder to us all today that we are called in the kingdom to do one thing; lead people to Christ for salvation and redemption. Unfortunately, we can get selfish along the way. Jonah was so selfish that he did not even believe God when he spared the great city of Nineveh. So he sat down a distance away from the city and proceeded to watch what would happen to the city. God provided a vine to grow up over Jonah and provide some relief from the sun. He then provided a worm to eat the vine, angering Jonah even more. When God asked Jonah is he had a right to be angry about the vine, Jonah replied that he was angry enough to die! Here was the response from God, ending the Book of Jonah.

But the LORD said, "You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?" Jonah 4: 10-11

 

Jonah was so selfish that his own comfort (the vine) was more important to him then the fact that 120,000 people were going to hell if not for the mercy of God. This lesson is so vital for all of us today. We should be concerned for the lost not ourselves. When God has placed a calling on your life, running away will never find you peace. We are not called to question God either. We are called to obey God. Do not treat prophecies with contempt. They are meant to show you the way in your walk beloved. You cannot outrun God!

 

What is God speaking into your life today? Has there been a word spoken into your life that you readily dismissed? Do you think you might know better than God? Do you find yourself comparing your situations to others and questioning God as to why some might have a different lot than you? Is there a bit of Jonah inside of you today? God will always give you another chance. His will for your life today is to not treat prophecies with contempt. There is a reason and a call on every life that God touches. Listen for that call and follow the will of God!

 

 

 

Anthony Wade - March 6, 2008