Today’s Reading: Jonah 4
Today’s Verse: But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry. Jonah 4:1 KJV
A believer’s self-life is composed of habits we are unwilling to surrender.
Our attitudes make us feel that keeping them from the Lord gives us a sense of independence.
Something we feel is of immense value and important to our current way of life.
But by following this path, we interfere with God’s purpose for our lives.
His desire is that every aspect of our lives be submitted to His will.
For Jonah, he mistook disobedience for freedom.
In this fourth chapter of his story there is a true to life picture of how he felt.
Jonah was extremely angry and furious when God showed mercy to the Ninevites.
“He said, I do well to be angry, even unto death” (Jonah 4:9 KJV).
His feelings were hot as in the sun.
Hot in the heat of his hatred.
God had used him to save more than 120,000 souls.
This made Jonah angry because he desired their destruction.
He obeyed to some degree.
But his freedom of choice continued to go against some of what the Lord had told him.
He continued to walk in full disobedience to the Lord.
He was obeying with his body, but not with his heart.
Missing out on the true liberty of life.
His bitterness shows how an unwillingness to change our self-life is a snare for the spirit.
Our unhealthy routines can be like thick weeds in our paths.
They prevent us from moving forward.
That is why God is determined to help us see what is best for our lives.
To show us how things not of Him hinder our lives.
Jonah resisted the Lord’s every attempt to destroy his sense of self-worth.
He was not humbled for his own sins.
He was not willing to trust the Lord with his credit and safety.
In this frame of mind, he overlooked the good of which he had been an instrument, and the glory of Divine mercy.
As believers, we too have the right to choose self over submission.
We can be like Jonah and face emotional turmoil.
But we must ask ourselves, is it well to say and do these things?
Can I justify giving others ill language in my anger?
Self-life will always cause us to miss the blessings of intimacy with the Lord.
As believers, we know that nothing is worth that.
It does us well not to be angry at that which is for the glory of God, and the advancement of his kingdom.
May we let the conversion of sinners, which is the joy of heaven, be our joy, and never our grief.
A WORD OF PRAYER
Father, we know not all the plans You desire for our lives. What we do know is that Your ways are always greater than our ways. We are not to let selfish thoughts and desires control our lives. We all have a purpose in this life. We were all sinners before we acknowledged this. The reason we are not to hinder the conversion of any other sinner. Not causing anyone grief. But to let the joy of Heaven and our joy shine ever so brightly. Thank You for all the blessings You bring our way.
In Jesus Name We Pray, Amen