Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep. Jonah 1:5
How often do we distract ourselves when there is work for God to be done?
God gave Jonah a task, he ran from it, and while the others were dealing with the consequence of Jonah's actions, he was down in the ship sleeping, distracting himself from what God asked him to do and not concerned with the storm raging outside.
The world is falling down around us, our families are crumbling, and our spiritual walk tends to be very weak.
Over and over God calls to us, through the Holy Spirit, through Scripture, church services, family, and friends and yet many of us bury those calls in the sea of distraction.
Mindlessly scrolling social media, playing video games for hours, pouring ourselves into our job, the list is endless. All while we know in our hearts God has called us to do something.
Now your something may not be to go into the modern day city of Nineveh and preach on the street corner, but there are many daily tasks which God asks us to do.
And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. Luke 9:23
Are you listening to God call you to flee that sin that keeps tripping you up? Has He asked you to close your computer screen to those videos and images that are not holy?
Has He called you to pray more, to witness to those around you, to study His Word, to put away those selfish desires, and pursue Him and His Holiness.
Going to Nineveh was not easy, and Jonah fought the whole way.
But how much better to go and do what God has called us to do willingly, with the help and mercy of the Holy Spirit guiding us, than to run from the God who is everywhere.
Jonah's crewmates suffered because of His lack of obedience, are those around you suffering the same fate?
As a parent, are you listening to God’s call to do more, to not allow certain things in your home. Or are you sleeping, while they're paying the price for your lack of obedience.
Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. James 4:17
God did not say this walk would be easy. Take it one day at a time. Be in His Word, listen for His voice, and pray that He will reveal to you your ‘sleeping’ distractions.
Comments