October 22, 2019 LIVING WATER DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE : TOPIC – THE DANGER OF LEAVING GOD’S PRESENCE
THE LIVING WATER
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
TOPIC – THE DANGER OF LEAVING GOD’S PRESENCE
Read: Jonah 1:2-4
[2]Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.[3]But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.[4]But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.
MEMORISE: _Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?_ (Psalms 139:7).
EXPOSITION
The unquestionable God calls those who He wills into His work and it is better to appreciate His gracious gift and power in us than thing we are somebody before Him. We are here to fulfil His mandate, giving Him the glory with all we are made of. A servant of God definitely should run errands for God. This was not the case with Jonah, the son of Amittai, who abandoned God’s project and became a wandering adventurist. Spending unplanned money, time, etc., He left the place of assignment to a place of destruction, but for God’s love upon him.
Our Sender (God) should be held in high esteem, because He will demand account from us, and reward us accordingly. Jonah was thus overwhelmed by challenges. If you cannot do God’s work, at least, you can manage what God has for you. Great wind was caused by God to trouble the ship that took him to escape from the presence of God. Three days was Jonah in the belly of the fish. Definitely, not a good experience.
Who is a servant of God? If all have sinned and Jesus came for all, it is expected that all should serve Him and His purposes, alone. To be in church and keep running away from working for God is an error individuals must necessarily correct, except our hope is limited to this earth.
Not all problems are caused by enemies. We might need to examine ourselves: Where do wars and fights come from among you?_ (Jas. 4:1)* Most times, it is from within, and sometimes due to our unreadiness to respond positively to God’s will. Jonah lost his belongings. He also became a problem to other people. Learn from Korah and Achan *(Num. 16:27-33; Jos. 7:24,25).* Hope you are not another Jonah? You can only run; you cannot hide *(Psa. 139:7).*
PRAYER POINTS
1. Lord, have mercy on me and forgive me of every neglect of Your work.
2. Lord, deliver me from every challenge occasioned by not heeding Your commands.
3. Father, save our nation from the sin of choking the gospel, while also helping Your servants to be up and doing.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Isaiah. 50:10 – 54:11; 1 Thessalonians. 4:7 – 5:9
Author: CAC WORLDWIDE
Remain Blessed!