Heroes of the Faith, Part 9Sample

Don't Run Away

Bible story: Jonah - Jonah 1-4

Theme verse: Psalm 51:10

In our Heroes of the Faith series, we have seen all kinds of ways to trust and obey God. But what happens when God asks you to do something that you very much do not want to do?

God told a prophet named Jonah to go and to preach in the enemy city of Nineveh. Jonah packed his bag and excitedly went to go tell them the good news of God’s grace – no!! Jonah hated the Ninevites and wanted God to destroy them. Instead, he tried to run away from God.

When we disobey God, we automatically try to run or hide from God by avoiding praying or reading the Bible. We stop being honest, because we are afraid that if people see our hearts, then they will see us as fake. It may also seem like we are irritated at everything. But the truth is that we are ignoring and disobeying God.

Jonah boarded a ship to Tarshish, as far from Nineveh as he could go. A great storm came so that all the sailors and other passengers were terrified. When Jonah saw that he could not escape God, he told the sailors to throw him overboard, so they did.

God provided a giant fish to swallow Jonah! God loves you so very much that He will take care of you and even help you to obey Him. God made the fish vomit him onto land, and he obeyed and went to Nineveh. The people heard his message and repented, and God did not destroy the city. Jonah still hated the Ninevites and was angry at God for saving them. But God loves all people and does not want any of them to perish, preferring that they repent and come find Him (2 Peter 3:9).

What will you do if God asks you to do something you don’t want to do? Like Jonah, you cannot run from God. If you don’t like the people that He is sending you to help, try these things. Praying for them can help your attitude change (Matthew 5:44). You can consider what they did that hurt you or someone you love, then forgive them and stop requiring any kind of payback from them. Remember that God does not require any payback for the wrong things you have done. (Matthew 18:21-35) If you simply do not get along with someone, ask them questions and try to understand their point of view. And if they do something that bothers you, look at your own heart and actions – you will find some version of the same sin in you (Romans 2:1).

Regardless of why you don’t want to obey God, you can ask God for help to change your heart and help you to want to obey Him. Any time that you don’t want to obey God is a wonderful opportunity to change your heart.

I choose to obey God even when I don’t want to and ask God to change my heart.

Questions:

1. What are two ways to run away from God?

2. Read the parable in Matthew 13:3-9 and decide which type of ground you want to be.

3. Make a decision. Do you want a life that produces goodness?

Application to Life:

What is God telling you to do lately? Is there something you know you should do but you keep delaying or avoiding it? Don’t wait and don’t complain. Go do it.