ERCC DEVOTIONAL (TEKAN) DAILY SPIRITUAL DIET; MONDAY 20TH NOVEMBER, 2023.

TEXT: JONAH 1: 1 - 10.

SPIRITUAL FOCUS: JONAH DISOBEYED.

The prophet Jonah was one of those whom God called to deliver His message His message to the people. The Lord sent him to warm the people of Nineveh to repent of their sins. But Jonah refused to go to the place where the Lord had sent him. 

He ran away from God and hid in a boat. He knew that if he went, the people would hear the message and repent, and the Lord would forgive them because He did not like the death of the sinner (Ezek. 33:11; 18:32). 

Perhaps he was blinded by tribalism and so he refused going to Nineveh. This is a pity. Even today there are many "Jonahs ' who have this attitude. Tribalism, jealousy, and hatred have blinded their minds and consciences. 

As a result, they make enemies with others who were not of their own race or religion. They do not care what happens to them. Brothers and sisters, it is not right to be followers of Christ in this way. Let us ask the Lord God to separate us from this attitude. 

Those who have it, may the Lord forgive them, and give them the desire to do His commandments if they are really His followers. It is our responsibility to participate in the gospel of Christ, and to bring the lost to Him, all the world. Let's not run like Jonah, the Lord will not be pleased with us, if we do, then He will raise up others to deliver His message. 

While we who refuse to go will be destroyed forever. May God forbid, Amen.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Wherever the Lord sends us, let us go.

PRAYER: Lord God, I beseech You, give me the heart to obey You and to love the lost for the sake of Christ Jesus, Amen.

                              JONAH 1: 1 - 10 (KJV).

1 Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,

2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.

3 But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.

4 But the Lord sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.

5 Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep.

6 So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.

7 And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah.

8 Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us; What is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou?

9 And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land.

10 Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him. Why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them.