'Running Toward or From?'
Jonah, the guy swallowed by a big fish, was given a mission to take a message to Israel’s arch enemy the Assyrians. He was told to go to Ninevah, their capitol, to tell them their sins so they could repent and turn to God. He didn’t want to do it and ran in the opposite direction. We find in Jonah 1 that there are consequences to running from your mission:
It creates distance between you and God and robs you of your peace.
It causes internal stress knowing that you aren’t doing what God has told you to do.
It negatively effects those around you.
It can cost your character, an important relationship, and tangible loss of finances and things.
It cost you time; lost time running in the wrong direction.
Think of it this way, when people engage in harmful activities and do what they want when they know that it could cause them to lose what they value and love, they are an addict. If you are running from your mission(s), you are essentially an addict--don’t kid yourself, there are significant consequences to you and those around you when you run from God’s mission.
The good news is that we can always turn back to God’s mission. When you accept God’s mission, you experience His blessings. You experience peace in your spirit knowing that you are on task and God is pleased. Relationships become healthier, deeper, and more enjoyable. Life becomes more stable. You enjoy the reward of using the gifts God has given you. People will see God in your actions and want to know more. When we turn to God, He blesses us in all areas of our lives.
So, the question is: Are you running toward God’s mission or from God’s mission? The choice is yours to make every day.
Blessings in 2022,
Jonathan