"The men were afraid and said, 'What is this you have done?' For they knew Jonah was fleeing from the Presence of the Lord." (Jonah 1:10)
What in the world have I done! Why have I disobeyed and brought unnecessary hardship upon myself and - more importantly - those I am closest to? I believe that the deepest and truest answer centers itself in what has become spiritual apathy. In ignoring the Commands and Directives of God and His Spirit I find myself "sleeping" in the Presence of the Lord, in the midst of the consequences that I have brought upon myself and those that I love the most:
"The sailors were afraid and each cried out to his god. They threw the ships' cargo into the sea to lighten the load. Meanwhile, Jonah had fallen into a deep sleep. The captain approached and said, 'What are you doing asleep?!' " (v. 5)
Perhaps in the middle of my spiritual indifference and by my great rebellion, I have brought danger - and perhaps a curse - upon those that I love and find myself with on this journey called "life". For it seems to me that whenever I am around, a tough situation for the one I love appears to only worsen. I have ignored the Call of God and am experiencing His Judgment. Like a driving rain, many feel the impact. For rain is widespread and falls upon those who find themselves a little too close to the source of the storm. Knowing this, why have I disobeyed and brought His Wrath down upon those around me? I believe the answer lies in the level of fear and reverence for the Lord that is severely lacking in my life. (And I call myself "Christian"; Follower of Christ.)
I have become "unconcerned" with the state of mankind's spirituality and the fact that it lies very close to death, and I can almost say the same regarding my "fear of the Lord". I do not revere and respect the God of all creation as I should.
I remember a short illustration on the reverence of God (I do not recall the author). It spoke of a rare watering hole to which all manner of beasts came to water themselves. It mattered not if one were an antelope or a zebra for it was the water that brought them all together. Then the mighty king of beats would arrive - the great and powerful lion and his great pride - in all their majestic glory. The others, who had raised their heads from drinking to give notice to the approach of greatness, did not run in fright - they simply bowed their heads in reverence and slowly backed away - allowing the lion to drink alone and without conflict. All out of respect and awe.
Where is this from me for my Creator? Where is this from me for my Savior? Where is this from me for my Provider? Where is this from me for my Protector? Where is this from me for the God of all things?
"Oh Lord, forgive my foolishness. Forgive me my pride. Forgive me for losing sight of why I am here and what You have saved me for. For I have laid to waste the life that You have given me and have brought those around me into this 'muck' I have made for myself through my indifference and disobedience. Bring me to You anew in humility and the deepest attitude of servitude. I pray this for I am lost without You. I am worthless outside of Your Righteousness. Open my eyes and my heart. Restore to me Your Zeal for the Body of Christ and for those lost in sin. Provide in me Your Strength and Courage so that I may step out in obedience to Your Call."
God's Ability to use my failures to reveal His Power should strengthen my "fear" of Him and increase my faith. Just as important, solidify my standing as His forgiven Child and renew my dedication to Him and the furtherance of His Kingdom here on Earth. This is a great and terrific need in my life.
"Then the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah and Jonah was in the fish three days and nights." (v. 17)
I believe with all my heart that God is capable - as is testified to with His Protection of Jonah - of providing some miraculous means by which to redirect a "wayward prophet" - and myself? - to his original task, preaching repentance. God's Plans will not be "reduced to nothing" by the schemes that disobedient people - myself included - create to get around them.
In spite of myself, perhaps there is Hope for me yet.
(to be continued)
What in the world have I done! Why have I disobeyed and brought unnecessary hardship upon myself and - more importantly - those I am closest to? I believe that the deepest and truest answer centers itself in what has become spiritual apathy. In ignoring the Commands and Directives of God and His Spirit I find myself "sleeping" in the Presence of the Lord, in the midst of the consequences that I have brought upon myself and those that I love the most:
"The sailors were afraid and each cried out to his god. They threw the ships' cargo into the sea to lighten the load. Meanwhile, Jonah had fallen into a deep sleep. The captain approached and said, 'What are you doing asleep?!' " (v. 5)
Perhaps in the middle of my spiritual indifference and by my great rebellion, I have brought danger - and perhaps a curse - upon those that I love and find myself with on this journey called "life". For it seems to me that whenever I am around, a tough situation for the one I love appears to only worsen. I have ignored the Call of God and am experiencing His Judgment. Like a driving rain, many feel the impact. For rain is widespread and falls upon those who find themselves a little too close to the source of the storm. Knowing this, why have I disobeyed and brought His Wrath down upon those around me? I believe the answer lies in the level of fear and reverence for the Lord that is severely lacking in my life. (And I call myself "Christian"; Follower of Christ.)
I have become "unconcerned" with the state of mankind's spirituality and the fact that it lies very close to death, and I can almost say the same regarding my "fear of the Lord". I do not revere and respect the God of all creation as I should.
I remember a short illustration on the reverence of God (I do not recall the author). It spoke of a rare watering hole to which all manner of beasts came to water themselves. It mattered not if one were an antelope or a zebra for it was the water that brought them all together. Then the mighty king of beats would arrive - the great and powerful lion and his great pride - in all their majestic glory. The others, who had raised their heads from drinking to give notice to the approach of greatness, did not run in fright - they simply bowed their heads in reverence and slowly backed away - allowing the lion to drink alone and without conflict. All out of respect and awe.
Where is this from me for my Creator? Where is this from me for my Savior? Where is this from me for my Provider? Where is this from me for my Protector? Where is this from me for the God of all things?
"Oh Lord, forgive my foolishness. Forgive me my pride. Forgive me for losing sight of why I am here and what You have saved me for. For I have laid to waste the life that You have given me and have brought those around me into this 'muck' I have made for myself through my indifference and disobedience. Bring me to You anew in humility and the deepest attitude of servitude. I pray this for I am lost without You. I am worthless outside of Your Righteousness. Open my eyes and my heart. Restore to me Your Zeal for the Body of Christ and for those lost in sin. Provide in me Your Strength and Courage so that I may step out in obedience to Your Call."
God's Ability to use my failures to reveal His Power should strengthen my "fear" of Him and increase my faith. Just as important, solidify my standing as His forgiven Child and renew my dedication to Him and the furtherance of His Kingdom here on Earth. This is a great and terrific need in my life.
"Then the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah and Jonah was in the fish three days and nights." (v. 17)
I believe with all my heart that God is capable - as is testified to with His Protection of Jonah - of providing some miraculous means by which to redirect a "wayward prophet" - and myself? - to his original task, preaching repentance. God's Plans will not be "reduced to nothing" by the schemes that disobedient people - myself included - create to get around them.
In spite of myself, perhaps there is Hope for me yet.
(to be continued)
