Jonah Devo - Day 1

The advisor team put this devo together for the students so I thought that I would share each days devo with you all to do at home.

Sunday, July 17, 2011 – Day 1

*Read Jonah 1:1-6 – Freedom of the Will

We are faced with choices every day of our lives. Some minor. Some major. Here God was calling Jonah to go and minster to the people of Nineveh. Jonah didn’t want anything to do with Nineveh so he bought himself a ticket and caught the next boat out of town and headed in the opposite direction to Tarshish. Jonah was from Israel and God was calling him to Nineveh, which happened to be a major city in the Assyrian empire, so let’s just say that the Ninevites didn’t really get along with the Israelites. Nineveh was known for their violence and idolatry.
When God calls us to a task, whether it is as specific as Jonah’s or as general as how we are to treat those around us, we have a choice whether to respond to the call or to go against God, which is sin. Wait -sin? Yes, to deliberately (or unintentionally for that matter) go against God’s will is sin. God does not give us an option when it comes to His plan for us. God has great plans for us and we know this from the words of the prophet Jeremiah, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11).
Often times we look at God’s calling as an option to consider alongside with our plans. I know this personally all too well. I can remember the first time I heard God call me into student ministry, I was still a senior in high school on a retreat in Ocean Grove, NJ but I was to focused on my plans and my dreams and couldn’t be bothered by Gods call.
My refusal to submit to God led me into a storm, not one with eighteen foot wave swells but one that left me feeling like I was drowning. Any time that you, Jonah, or I refuse to do God’s will we have to be willing to face the consequences. Just as any loving parent disciplines their disobedient child, God will discipline us just the same. Hebrews 12:11 says, “For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” God’s love for us is so strong that even if we do go against His will He will use our sin to make us grow.

Questions:
1. What are some ways that you have exercised your will?

2. Aside from breaking commands, what are some ways that you have rejected God’s will for you?

3. What are some ways that you abide in God’s will?

4. Are there any areas of sin in which you are unrepentant?



Prayer Starter

Spend a few minutes in conversation with God… that is, take time out to pray! To get you started, just tell God how you feel about Him… is it love, doubt, anger? Whatever it is, he'll understand. Then, ask God to give you the wisdom to understand His will for you, and the strength to follow it. Take time to listen to what He is saying to you as you pray


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Location:Chicago, IL