FRIDAY: Say Yes Before the Storm

BIG IDEA:

The only thing harder than following God’s Will is wishing that you had.

Reading: Jonah 3:1-5; Luke 9:23-26

Jonah 3:1-5

“Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you.” So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days’ journey in breadth. Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them.”

Luke 9:23-26

“And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.”

Devotional:

After three days in the fish, Jonah finally surrendered. But imagine the pain, regret, and wasted time he could have avoided by simply obeying initially. God's second call to Jonah was the same as His first: "Go to Nineveh."

God's plans don't change when we resist—we just delay the blessing and multiply our struggles.

Reflection:

What is God calling you to do today? Receive Christ? Get baptized? Share your story? Serve? Give generously? Forgive someone? The only thing harder than following God's will is wishing you had.

Response:

Don't wait for the storm. Don't wait for the fish. Say yes to God today. Write down one specific step of obedience and take it this week.

Song of the Day:

Vertical Worship - Yes I Will (Official Lyric Video)