Toward or Away
Life is full of choices. Every day we make them. Some we enjoy, others we regret.
Whether we believe it or not, our lives are a path.
We choose to walk forward on the right path, or we turn around and stumble.
I recently was reading the story of Jonah and realized
I had already stumbled and turned away.
The Lord was gently reminding me to turn around and get back on the path.
Read the book, and see Jonah's lesson. It applies to us all!
Jonah 1:1-3
Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, " Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me." But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.
Here we see Jonah decide to flee from the presence of the Lord.
He didn't out right say NO! I will not go!
He didn't negotiate. He just turned and walked.
Our lives are much like this. We think we are just making a decision, and we move.
We don't always think that decision is moving us away from God.
But then the storm comes, and we begin to question what is going wrong.
At that point some begin to blame God for what is happening,
asking why He lets these things happen to us.
But in the end, we are the cause of our own issue.
That is why we are so very fortunate to have a patient, kind, and loving God.
Who wishes that none should perish.
In His great mercy, He provides protection, grace, and forgiveness.
Jonah 4:5-6
Jonah went out of the city and sat to the east of the city and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, till he should see what would become of the city. Now the Lord God appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant.
Even when we are the ones turning away, the Lord shelters us. He gives us grace,
even though we are traveling the wrong direction.
But in the grace and protection, there is correction.
A lesson He is trying to teach us.
Jonah 4: 7-8a
But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered. When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint.
Because God loves us and wants us close, He will teach and correct us.
Sometimes that trial we are going through is God pulling us back to Him.
We just need to see and understand. Then turn around and move.
Forgiveness is waiting, no matter how far you have gone.
No matter where you are, and no matter what you have done.
I have decided to follow Jesus!
Toward or Away?
What will you decide?
