Have you ever run from the will of God for your life? Maybe you’ve thought, “I could never do what God is asking me to do.” You may feel unqualified to serve the Lord, but God does not call the qualified; He qualifies the called. The fact of the matter is, God is not looking for ability nearly as much as He is looking for availability.
Practical Principles
- Sin is costly. Sin will take you further than you want to go, it will keep you longer than you want to stay, and it will cost you more than you want to pay. The Bible repeats that Jonah when “down.” Sin is a downer, and whenever you’re running from God, you’re going down.
- Sometimes nonbelievers have a better idea of God than some believers have. The men on the boat had a healthy respect and wonder for the God that Jonah was trying to ignore. Sometimes nonbelievers have a better idea of how a Christian should behave than Christians have.
- The Book of Jonah teaches us about God’s character. The focus of the book is not about the whale; it’s about God. We spend too much time talking about the great fish and we don’t talk about the great God of the story. Here’s the real message of the book of Jonah: God gives second chances.
- You can pray anywhere, anytime. You can basically pray in any location or position—publicly, privately, verbally, silently, eyes closed, eyes open, sitting, standing, kneeling, or from the belly of a great fish—and God can hear your prayer.
- No matter your circumstances, there is hope. God can get you out of whatever situation you are in, and if He doesn’t, He will certainly be with you through it. In the end, the hope of Heaven always remains, no matter what happens.
Relevant Reminders
- I believe the book of Jonah is true because (1) it’s in the Bible, and all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and (2) Jesus authenticated the story of Jonah.
- Storms come into our lives as Christians: calamities, hardships, medical issues, marital problems, legal battles. But God is the shelter in the storm.
- In life, there are correcting storms, perfecting storms, and protecting storms.
- Jonah prayed Scripture, and that’s a good idea for us as well.
Applicable Actions
Jonah’s personal revival led to one of the largest revivals in history. Nothing can happen through you until it first happens to you. Maybe you need a personal revival. Jonah did, and God gave him a second chance. The Bible is filled with the stories of people that God gave second chances to. God can give you a second chance as well.
I wonder if God’s not calling some of us today to leave our comfort zones and go to people we don’t want to go to. You cannot get away from God and you should not want to. You can’t go anyplace where the Lord is not there before you.
