Don’t Run Away from God

Jonah 1:1-10 –

1 The LORD gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.” 3 But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the LORD. He went down to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from the LORD by sailing to Tarshish. 4 But the LORD hurled a powerful wind over the sea, causing a violent storm that threatened to break the ship apart.

Hebrews 10:38-39 –

And my righteous ones will live by faith. But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away.”

But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved.

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1. What made Jonah run away from God to get away from Him. Perhaps he didn’t want to do what God wanted him to, so he tried to go in the opposite direction of where God wanted him.

2. What makes me want to run away from God is if something is difficult, uncomfortable, requires sacrifice on my part or if it displeases others.
3. The consequence if I run away from God is that it invites trouble, and I’d be missing out on the greater plan and purpose God has for me. Like Jeremiah 29:11 says, His thoughts are greater than my thoughts, and His plans are greater than my plans.
No matter how big our sins, come to God to make peace. When we run away we avoid God loving grace and open the door for evil to actively judging us. Believe in His love.

What Can Defeat a Noble Purpose: Worry (3)

Luke 12:29-37
29 “And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. 30 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. 31 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need. 32 “So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom. 33 “Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. 35 “Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks. 37 The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat!

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1. God’s advice to overcome anxiety is know that our Father already knows our needs (v.30), and that we in fact, should not even keep so much to ourselves, but to give to those in need. When we seek the Kingdom above all else, He’ll give us everything we need.

2. “(Being) dressed for service (keeping our) lamps burning,” means doing service is like putting on nice garments, and being excited and not weary so we are ready for the Bridegroom’s return.

What Can Defeat a Noble Purpose: Greed (2)

Luke 12:15-21 >>

15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’

18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” ‘

20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’

21 “This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.”

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1. Greed is when you are only generous towards yourself and forget about the source of the blessing, God. Perhaps He has given us much blessing to bless others, to help feed those blessings to those in need.
2. Some characteristics of those who are greedy is that they like to store a lot for themselves out of their abundance and they have no care or concern for others. The consequence if I do not repent from this certain character trait is that God can see and get upset and pull the plug on us. We’re put on this earth to be a light, not to be a light that hides somewhere, then the light’s purpose is blocked.
3. To be “rich toward God” means that I need to store up for myself things in heaven, not on earth!

Don’t Let Your Life’s Purpose Be Misled

Matthew 18:7-9, 1 Corinthians 15:33, James 1:12-16

Matthew 18:7-9 >> 7 “Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come! 8 If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.

1 Corinthians 15:33 >> Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”

James 1:12-16 >> 12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. 16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers.

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1. Yes, I have gotten distracted before by temptations when I was planning on accomplishing something else. Some examples are procrastinating and surfing the Internet when I’m supposed to read my devotions first. X__X But I want to stop, because it is a decision!
2. The original purpose was delayed or not reached because temptation came, then desire, then sin. But I can stop it! It is a decision. Once temptation comes, I need to rebuke and reject and flee from it, BEFORE desire can even emerge!
3. Some strategies I can practice in my daily life (advice from God’s Word) is to hang out with good people (since bad company corrupts good character- 1 Cor 15:13), flee from temptation before desire can emerge (James 1:15), and be willing to sacrifice something for the sake of righteousness (Matt 18:7-9).”

5 Things I want to do today to please God:
1. Give my best at work
2. Be home by 11
3. Not procrastinate with things (ex. ministry – translations, etc.)
4. Practice patience, gentleness, joy and other fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23)
5. Develop dance skills so I can better minister to Him through dance

Rebellion is Like Witchcraft

“For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king.”- 1 Samuel 15:23 (NKJV)

It’s interesting because in this verse, rebellion is likened to witchcraft. Although at first thought, it seems completely different, they are similar in the fact that rebellion, like witchcraft (as mentioned by John Walker in today’s Purpose Driven Life devotion), is an “attempt to control your circumstances independent of God.” One uses spells and spirits, but the other uses disobedience and disunity to try to control a cituation.

I want to get away from this as much as possible and ask the Lord to help me not rebel against God, but rather work within the the circumstances He’s given me while being obedient, even if there are limitations I may or may not understand. I should not feel chained, caged or suffocated, but rather free in knowing that my decision to obey and desire unity in Christ is brought from a willingness and desire to please God and trust that He will make all things beautiful in His time (Ecc 3:11), and that “He will make all things work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).”

There have definitely been many shortcomings of practicing this in my past. But I want to ask the Holy Spirit to help me now in life, and for God to forgive me of my past. Although I deserve punishment, I want to ask for His mercy and grace. I want Him to take over all aspects of my life and help me and my loved ones and His people to live for Him in truth, righteousness, and obedience and joy.

Learn to Focus on the Main and the Most Important

John 4:34, 8:26-29

34″My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.

“Just what I have been claiming all along,” Jesus replied. 26″I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is reliable, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.”

27They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. 28So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. 29The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.”

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1. The main focus of Jesus’ life was to doing the will of God the Father and finishing His work.
2. I want my life’s focus to also be about doing the will of God in joy, peace and life abundant.
3. There are many things that can cause my life to be disoriented such as desire to take part in earthly pleasures,