Blessed Are Those Who Hear The Word Of God and Do It!

Faith Filled Thoughts
October 29th, 2008
By Connie Ciccone
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Blessed Are Those Who Hear The Word Of God and Do It!

Scripture: Jonah 1:1 & 3:1 "The word of the Lord came to Jonah" ... "The word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time."

There was much that went on between the two times that the Lord spoke to Jonah. The first time God spoke, He instructed Jonah to arise and go preach against the wickedness of the great city of Nineveh, but instead Jonah got on a ship and fled to Tarshish. In the midst of his rebellious flight, Jonah was thrown off of the ship and swallowed by a whale. He stayed in this terrible dilemma for three days and three nights. While he was in the belly of the fish, he came to terms with his disobedience and remembered God. When he began to cry out to the Lord for deliverance, the Lord spoke to the fish and it vomited Jonah out onto the dry ground. Then, the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time and told him to go preach to Nineveh. After all the distress and suffering that Jonah had endured, God had not changed His mind and His word to Jonah remained the same, "Arise, go to Nineveh and preach."
All of us have probably walked down the trail of disobedience at some point in our lives and discovered that its fruits were not very pleasant. I could tell you about a terrible situation that I got myself into because I was following after my own heart's desires instead of the perfect will of God for my life. Like Jonah, I found myself in the belly of a whale, not physically of course, but spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. It was the darkest and most painful experience that I ever endured. The hopelessness and distress drove me to my knees, for I knew that only God could deliver me. God is very loving and merciful and He understood my frail humanity. He was faithful and patient with me and graciously provided a way of escape.
Every time that God speaks, the devil comes to challenge that word so that he can steal the blessing that God has planned. God's word to us is meant to touch other lives as well as our own. Jonah clearly heard the word of the Lord both times and knew that God wanted to use him to bring deliverance to the people of Nineveh. The first time God spoke, Jonah chose not to obey, but the second time he was convinced that he needed to do God's will regardless of his own personal preference, for he had experienced the results of disobedience and it wasn't very pleasant. When God speaks and we find it difficult to submit, we must remember the example of Jonah. We must make a determination to be attentive to God's voice and be obedient to do His perfect will the very first time that He speaks to us so that He doesn't have to speak to us the second time.
May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Connie
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