Challenge Verse for Today:  Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “this is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21 (NIV) 

My pastor often reminds us that delayed obedience is still disobedience.  While I understand this concept (remember the story of Jonah) I can understand why some people may initially take issue with it.  They are usually looking at what I will call the “carefully consider it” aspect. I used to admonish my children to “think about it and pray about it” before making decisions, especially major ones.  And I believe that’s still sound advice.  However, there is a big difference between making a decision between more than one option and following the clear leading of the Lord when given specific instructions to follow. He  

It is understandable that sometimes we might struggle with whether we are hearing the voice of God or the desire of our own will.  But, the truth of the matter is, we should be so secure in our relationship with the Lord that we are certain of his voice when he speaks.   

An online bible study devotion I read recently, reminds us that one of the best ways to know the voice of the Lord is to read and study his word.  As a matter of fact, while other versions of today’s challenge verse read “your ears will hear a voice behind you”, the King James Version reads “and thine ears hear a word behind…” (emphasis added). 

When God asks us to do something, he is always very specific.  Think about it.  When he told Noah how to build the ark, he gave specific instructions.  When he told Moses to leave his family, he showed him exactly where he wanted him to go, even though he didn’t exactly give him GPS coordinates ahead of time. And of course, you know the story of the prophet, Jonah.  God instructed him to go to Nineveh and he fled in another direction and paid a high price for his disobedience. Jonah did eventually obey God and do what he was asked to do, but only after causing trouble for both himself and the people he hitched a ride from.   

My point in all this is the realization that delay in obeying God comes from our desire to please ourselves in our own desired outcome for that situation rather than please God.  In the end we realized that Jonah knew God’s character and knew that God would show mercy unto the people of Nineveh. 

The thing I love most is that even though he followed his own will instead of God’s will, God still graciously allowed Jonah to continue his journey and do what he was assigned to do. 

As a prophet, Jonah was no stranger to the voice or the will of God.  As a matter of fact, his knowledge of God’s gracious character was what compelled him to run in the other direction instead of just doing as God instructed him to do.   

For those of you who don’t know how the story ended, Jonah went to Nineveh, preached the Lord’s warning and then the people repented.  God forgave them and saved the city.  Jonah confessed that it was God’s character that caused him to want to run in the first place.  He figured God would hear the cry of the people and forgive them.   It angered him that God gave the city of Nineveh a second chance they didn’t deserve.  At least as far as Jonah was concerned.  But God ended the discussion with a final question that began with these words “should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh?”   

My desire for today’s post is simple.  I want you to think about your relationship with the Lord and ask yourself a few questions that only you can answer.  Wherever you find yourself today and no matter how you feel about it, don’t lose sight of God’s concern, his pure agape love for you.  You don’t have to do anything to earn it and nothing you have done can negate it.  However, I hope these questions will encourage you to walk in it.  

Is there anything that God is pressing on your heart to do? What’s holding you back? How’s that working out for you? 

Be Blessed, 

Shelia