FAITH CAPSULE: Disobedient to God’s word is to be in distance, away from God’s presence.

Jonah 1, 2

John 1:1 confirms, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
The word of God is God.
The word of God is the presence of God that needs to be received, obediently for one’s direction and preservation, not to become a victim of the wicked world.
The word of God is a living word that is not stagnated but move, to locate anyone for God’s direction as God purposes.
Pages of the Bible testifies how the word of God, the presence of God came to locate them for His direction:
“After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” (Genesis 15:1)
“Then the word of the Lord came to Solomon, saying…” (1Kings 6:11)
For, Elijah to receive provision from God, through a widow, “Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” (1 Kings 17:8-9)
Jeremiah testifies, “Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying:” (Jeremiah 1:4)
John the Baptist word came to him just like Jonah, “…the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins” (Luke 3:2-3)
When the word of God (the presence of God) comes to you, as a direction in life, obey but do not be disobedient, to avoid self-destruction.
The word of God came to Jonah, but he disobeyed to miss the presence of God.
The Bible records, “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.” 3 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) Jonah’s disobedience to God’s word of direction is identified as Jonah’s fleeing from the presence of God.
Without doubt, disobedience to walk against the word of God (the presence of God) is the avenue to destruction.
Jonah’s disobedient of God placed him into the STORM at SEA.
Bible records, “But the Lord sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea so that the ship was about to be broken up.” (Jonah 1:4)
Disobedient to the word of God is walking from the presence of God into the distance.
Are you walking away from the word of God?

Prayer for today: Ask for God’s hand to keep you from walking away from His word of direction.