Do They Know?
Have you ever found yourself in a storm in life, wondering how you got there and what God might be trying to say through it? Sometimes, we’re the ones who ran, and sometimes, we’re just caught in the chaos around someone else’s disobedience. Either way, storms have a way of shaking us awake and exposing what (and who) we really believe in.
In the book of Jonah, we find a prophet sleeping on a boat in the middle of a treacherous storm, both literally and figuratively. The sailors asked Jonah to pray to his God, hoping that their lives would be spared. When this didn’t work, the sailors cast lots to figure it out and realized that Jonah must be the cause of this storm.
Jonah finally told them he was running from His God, and the sailors immediately responded with why? Why did you do it? The sailors saw the power of God in this storm and realized God is real. Because of this encounter, they vowed to live for Him. When Jonah eventually obeyed God, Nineveh was spared from destruction because the people chose God.
I love so many things about this story. The sailors were not believers, but in the middle of a terrifying storm, they were desperate for help so they begged Jonah to pray. The irony is striking: they didn’t serve Jonah’s God, but they were willing to try anything, including prayer, to survive. It’s actually pretty comical, and familiar. Isn’t that how we tend to act? Life gets hard, the storm hits, and suddenly we’re on our knees, praying like never before.
Think about your life. Think about who you are around on a daily basis. Think about loved ones who don’t truly know God. Do those people know you know God? How can you influence others towards a relationship with God?
Recently, my daughter shared a conversation she had with some friends at school. She told me how her friends seemed to think they were shocking her with their stories, simply because of who she is. As we unpacked the emotions that came from that moment, she began to realize something important: her friends recognize that she’s different because of her walk with Jesus. They know how she lives, and they know the kind of advice she’ll give.
Maybe you’ve recognized this in your own life as you have gone through various stages, workplaces, and friend groups. The decisions we make to obey the Lord and live by the Word are what will not only bless us but what will witness to the world and lead others to Christ.
If God was able to use Jonah, even in his disobedience, to lead the sailors and eventually the entire city of Nineveh to salvation, how much more can He do through our obedience? Our obedience is a witness to others. Let’s be bold in our faith. Let’s make sure others know who Jesus is and that we want them to experience His love and salvation as well. It all starts with obedience to God and His Word.
Activation: Reflect on your circle of influence. How can you influence the lost today?
Prayer: God, guide my life today that I would boldly live for You in every circumstance. Let me influence the lost for You through my lifestyle. Let Your Holy Spirit lead, guide, and direct every word I speak and decision I make. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
In the book of Jonah, we find a prophet sleeping on a boat in the middle of a treacherous storm, both literally and figuratively. The sailors asked Jonah to pray to his God, hoping that their lives would be spared. When this didn’t work, the sailors cast lots to figure it out and realized that Jonah must be the cause of this storm.
Jonah finally told them he was running from His God, and the sailors immediately responded with why? Why did you do it? The sailors saw the power of God in this storm and realized God is real. Because of this encounter, they vowed to live for Him. When Jonah eventually obeyed God, Nineveh was spared from destruction because the people chose God.
I love so many things about this story. The sailors were not believers, but in the middle of a terrifying storm, they were desperate for help so they begged Jonah to pray. The irony is striking: they didn’t serve Jonah’s God, but they were willing to try anything, including prayer, to survive. It’s actually pretty comical, and familiar. Isn’t that how we tend to act? Life gets hard, the storm hits, and suddenly we’re on our knees, praying like never before.
Think about your life. Think about who you are around on a daily basis. Think about loved ones who don’t truly know God. Do those people know you know God? How can you influence others towards a relationship with God?
Recently, my daughter shared a conversation she had with some friends at school. She told me how her friends seemed to think they were shocking her with their stories, simply because of who she is. As we unpacked the emotions that came from that moment, she began to realize something important: her friends recognize that she’s different because of her walk with Jesus. They know how she lives, and they know the kind of advice she’ll give.
Maybe you’ve recognized this in your own life as you have gone through various stages, workplaces, and friend groups. The decisions we make to obey the Lord and live by the Word are what will not only bless us but what will witness to the world and lead others to Christ.
If God was able to use Jonah, even in his disobedience, to lead the sailors and eventually the entire city of Nineveh to salvation, how much more can He do through our obedience? Our obedience is a witness to others. Let’s be bold in our faith. Let’s make sure others know who Jesus is and that we want them to experience His love and salvation as well. It all starts with obedience to God and His Word.
Activation: Reflect on your circle of influence. How can you influence the lost today?
Prayer: God, guide my life today that I would boldly live for You in every circumstance. Let me influence the lost for You through my lifestyle. Let Your Holy Spirit lead, guide, and direct every word I speak and decision I make. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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