“Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.” (Jonah 1:2)
This about God’s calling. Not all of us will give a good response when God call us to do something. Often times we tend to run away and avoid from god’s calling with various reasons. Fulfilling God’s calling means should get out from our comfort zone and must be ready to experience difficult time included with all risks in it.
One day, because for some reasons I can’t attended an invitation from a social foundation. Then I ask my secretary to represent me and also on my behalf give a short speech in its event. What is her reaction? He was shocked and although she not significantly refuses but there is a tendency that she did not want to do what I asked. I knew from her eyes that she wanted to say,” if I could, I do not want to go there. Supposing that I could refuse this task” My secretary story is quite different with Jonah’s story. But both have the same point, trying to resisting the call of duty. My secretary was not running away from my order but let’s take a look to Jonah.
When God asked Jonah go to Nineveh, he refused and prepared to flee to Tarshish. But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord. (Jonah 1:3.) Jonah thought, by fleeing to Tarshish it all matters will to be completed. Escaping is obviously not an option. It will bring very severe consequences. And it’s true. Eventually disaster happens. Very severe storm occurred and the ship that boarded by Jonah nearly break up. Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. (Jonah 1:4) And we all know that the storm become calmer after Jonah was thrown to the sea. Finally, God provided a great fish to swallow him, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights. (Jonah 1:17) Series of events that experienced by Jonah make him realize that he had no other choice except should be obedient to do God’s call.
The story of Jonah makes me contemplate. As a Christian, Should we experience suffering, distress or warning from God first and then we want to be obedient and faithfully doing His call? Running away from God’s call is not a way out! David said, ‘Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” (Psalm 139:7-10) We cannot run away from God presence. These verses clearly show us that wherever we go, God is there.
My daddy said, “Indeed, God’s calling is a very noble and grace for us. God call us not just because our own strength but He looking for the people who have willingness to get out from their comfort zone, willing to suffer, and ready to be formed as a means of His glory. It is an honor for us because God choose us to involve in the work of His Kingdom.”
When God call us, what is our reaction? What shall we say? Whether we are going to run away like Jonah and got rebuke from the Lord? Or we would say, “Dear God, Here I am. Strengthen and enable me to fulfill your calling. I am Yours. Grant me the readiness of heart to doing what you want to. Prepare me with Your way to going anywhere You want to.” My dear lovely friends, Are we ready? To meet God’s calling maybe not easy, maybe we will face very difficult situation, but we need to learn to be obedient to His call. God does not need our strength and greatness but all He need is our willingness, obedient and faith and He, Himself, will work through us. God reminds Jeremiah:” But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 1:7-8)
When God call us, in fact, He will use us. He will work through us. God does not need the experts. What He need are people who have a heart that longs to love others, who joyfully fulfilling His call. Let’s Find our calling and do it the best we can. Amen.
And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. (Romans 8:30)
Karina
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Karina's Thought 