FAITH CAPSULE: If God calls you to move, He will equip you through.
Jonah 1
The source of faith is described in Romans 10:17, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Have you heard from God about your next move? If He has called you, have you answered? There is no reasonable excuse not to answer to His calling. Fear is not enough to deny man obeying God’s command. Fear is not of God, but of the devil. Fear, the opposite of faith is not needed to rise in response to God’s calling. If God sends you, He will back you up. 1 Thessalonians 5:24 gave assurance of God’s backing for the called ones, “He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.” If God calls you to move, He will equip you through the journey of obedience. God alone is more than able to see you through. If you know that He called you, ignore all the confronting challenges which are set to discourage you. Be encouraged and not turn your back from answering to His calling.
“By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.” (Hebrews 11:7) Noah did not question or doubt the call to build an ark in a region where it hardly rains. There was a justifiable reason for Noah not to answer in obedience, but he justified is faithfulness in God by responding fully in obedience. Is there any tangible excuse for you not to respond and move like Noah moved in obedience?
God did not send angel or man when He called Jonah but He spoke by His word. It is written, “Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.” But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.” (Jonah 1:1-3) Noah received calling and responded fully in obedience. Jonah received calling and responded in his own way. Jonah did not do as God commanded him. Evidently, Jonah arose as commanded, but fled in opposite direction of the Lord’s command. Disobeying God’s command is an avenue to self-destruction; it is a way of death not of life. To disobey God is to displease Him. The book of Hebrew 11:6 buttress, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
Prayer for today: Ask God to open the eyes and ears of your heart that you become consistent obeying Him.