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HELP LORD! RESPOND, NOT RUN
Rod ShimabukuroAnd should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?” Jonah 4:11
This conversation and all ordeal of Jonah’s journey ends with a question from God? I don’t believe the Bible leaves us )overall) in suspense, but this passage seems to? What would Jonah have replied? There’s a striking contrast between God’s compassion and Jonah’s apathy and fear. God’s call to mission and Jonah’s disobedience to God’s call.
One of my life action takeaways is that I don’t want to be disobedient. But life seems to run deeper than the options between obedience and disobedient. My question is WHY AM I DISOBEDIENT? The answer varies in varied situations. Today, I am disobedient in compassion to some people in my path because they hurt me. SO the deeper issue for me today is to repent, receive forgiveness, open my heart to the next steps as God leads - and not run from God’s call to be kind, forgiving. God is also calling me to die to my high expectations of Christians - that prove unhealthy because it turns into judgmental attitudes.
Lord - help me to turn from my lack of love, compassion for some folks. Forgive me for my judgmental, critical attitudes and help me to have high expectations of Your work in my heart. Thank you for Your grace and kindness in my life, when I don’t fulfill Your expectations (daily, throughout the day!!) Help me to respond to You and not run from Your specific instructions in my heart and life! HELP!!
