Dare to Dream: Lose Your Big 'Buts' Devo

February 3rd, 2019

Devotional

“Dare to Dream: Lose Your Big ‘Buts’” -

                                                    Jonah 1: 1-17

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Monday: “Fleeing the Call” - Jonah 1:1-3

  Brothers and sisters, we are all called by God. Called to serve God. Maybe not as a pastor or a missionary overseas, but it’s still a call. Maybe your call is to lead Sunday School. Start a small group. Form a relationship with someone who doesn’t yet know about Christ. The calls of God are endless. And we all run from them one way or another. Usually in ways less noticeable than Jonah. By not having our heart in it. By not stepping out in faith. By not being fully engaged in the ministry of God. By staying in our comfort zone. By not going in all the way. And sometimes even running the opposite direction.

  But like Jonah we are destined to learn the truth of the God we love. We cannot run away from him. Jonah knew that he couldn’t really flee from God. In fact, when the crew of the ship asked him who his God was, Jonah claimed that his God was over the sea and the dry land. Where could Jonah really go? Where can we really go?

When is a time that you ran away from God’s call? What happened?

Prayer: God, we thank you that you do nor leave us or forsake us, but confess, O Lord, that we have left you. We have ran from your call in our lives at times. Forgive us, Precious Lord, and keep calling us until we respond. Amen. 

Tuesday: “Tell Us” - Jonah 1: 4-8

The crew of the ship do something interesting. They go through questions, and casting lots (which was essentially be like playing a game or spinning a wheel to determine the will of God) and finally determine that Jonah is the cause behind the storm. Jonah’s God is mad at him. But goodness, they should have known that friends. They knew that Jonah was fleeing from God because he told them. They just didn’t really grasp what that means.

If we search hard enough we will find people to go along with our disobedience. People that will tell us that it’s okay to run from unpleasant situations, or back us up when we say that we aren’t quite sure if this is the call of God for us, so we will just wait it out. Or ignore it. It’s not hard to find people who will be complicit with our sin. People who will harbor us from the will of God or help us run the opposite direction. But that doesn’t make it right. And it doesn’t mean that the storms won’t come. 

Who has encouraged you to stop running from God?

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for the people in our lives who encourage us to follow the call you have placed on our lives - the people who have encouraged us to listen and to stop running. Build us up to be such people in the lives of others, we pray. Amen. 

Wednesday: “What Shall We Do?” - Jonah 1:9-12

The crew tried everything they could think of before giving in and throwing Jonah overboard, treating him like a piece of cargo that had already been discarded instead of the prophet of God he was. But then something happens. The storm stops. And the crew falls before Jonah’s God making sacrifices and vows. These men who just a few verses before were crying out to their own God came to see the power of the God Jonah worshiped. Even Jonah’s disobedience was used to give God glory. This is not to say that we should run from God so that God will be glorified. Rather it’s pointing out that God will be glorified, and we have the choice to be part of that or not. Do we want our sin to point to God or our trust and obedience?

  At the end of the day, I think we understand Jonah because his fear resonates with us. The fear of the call. The fear of the unknown. So we choose to run away, instead of following God into freedom. We flee instead of listening to God. 

I don’t think I’ve ever heard a call story where the person being called by God responded willingly the first time. But as the story of Jonah show us, God will not be ignored. God is relentless in pursuing us. And God just won’t let us shrink away from the call that was specifically designed for us. 

What fears do you have about following God’s call on your life?

Prayer: Lord, let us trust you more than we fear the unknown. Let us set aside our excuses and run hard after you. May we hear your voice tell us afresh that we are yours and the plans you have for us this day. Let us willingly work for your Kingdom. Amen. 

Thursday: “Threw Him In” - Jonah 1: 13-16

  We like to kid ourselves into thinking that if we don’t respond to the call of God then someone else will just do it for us. But it’s your call. No one can do it the same way you can because God made it for you. God wants you. If Jonah didn’t go, how would the Ninevites get the message? The only way to deliver it was through another person. And God selected Jonah. But Jonah let fear trump calling. 

It’s time to stop running. Stop seeking out people to make us feel better about our disobedience. Stop pretending that someone else could do it just as well. Stop being disobedient. Stop. It’s your call. It’s your time.

  What needs to happen in your life for you to stop running from God?

Prayer: Lord, we cannot help but marvel at the fact that while we run the other way, you keep calling us back. Lord, do whatever it takes, we pray, to not give up on us. Break our disobedient spirits and give us a heart to do your will. Amen. 

Friday: “Large Fish” - Jonah 1: 17

  Even when Jonah ran, God did not give up on or forget the call that God had placed on him. Even when the sailors realized what was happening and reluctantly threw him overboard, God still had a plan that involved Jonah - he just had to use the belly of a large fish to get his attention. 

What does God need to do in order to get your attention? Can you think of something you know that God has been calling you to do, but that you have been ignoring or avoiding? How has God continued to show you this call and not let you go? How are you going to respond?

What does God need to do in order to get your attention?

Prayer: Lord, do whatever it takes, we pray, to get our attention. Let us no longer run away or make excuses. Instead, let us have your heart for you people, we pray. Amen. 

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “Dare to Dream: What is in Your Hand?” - Exodus 4: 2-5