It is good news that God never changes
but change needs to be part of a Christ follower’s make-up. We have a great
example of it in Jonah 3:1-3; Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: “Go
to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give
you.” Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh.
Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through
it. God had told Jonah the same thing earlier but because of his
disobedience he had to spend 3 days in the belly of a big fish. God did not
change His mind about what He wanted Jonah to do. Jonah had to change his
direction.
After his ordeal inside a
fish, Jonah decides to be obedient. I love this quote, “God loves you just the
way you are, but refuses to leave you that way.” We’re a lot like Jonah –
even if we don’t want to admit it. The good news is that we don’t have to be
thrown in the ocean and swallowed by a big fish!
You have probably seen this list
before: "The Seven Steps to
Church Stagnation":
1. We've never done it that
way before. 2. We're not ready for that.
3. We are doing all right
without trying that. 4. We tried it once before.
5. We don't have money for
that. 6. That's not our job.
7. Something like that
can't work.
It doesn’t matter what
you’ve done remember Jonah
was totally disobedient. Do you know what the difference between
change in the world and in the church? It’s we’re not a democracy but
a Theocracy! We must follow God's Word on all matters.
It doesn’t matter where
you’ve been.
Jonah had been thrown into the sea and swallowed by a fish! Deal with the change
– You can get mad, run, or be scared but embrace it make it your own. It
doesn’t matter who you are - No matter your background -No matter
how you look -No matter how you smell. God has a plan for your life, don’t
bother running (away, to your comfort zone, old habits, gossiping/tearing down)
(it won’t help)
Let’s start acting more
like Jesus in love, obedience, and faithfulness. Let’s embrace the great
Planner and Creator & do things His way!