I Have a Question
“The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”
But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa,where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.”
- Jonah 1:1-3 NIV
“We must do the works of Him who sent Me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work.”
- John 9:4 HCSB
“OK... I have a question.”
In middle school and high school when they were actively playing basketball, my oldest daughters had a teammate and close friend who, during practice, would open up most every drill or every discussion she had with me just that way. So much so that it eventually became a running joke between her and me.
And if we were discussing today’s text, In my mind I can hear that player make the same comment or start to ask a question the same way. So, since it seems to fit well here...
I have a question.
After reading through Jonah 1 where we see Jonah rebel against God and run in the opposite direction of where God had called him to go… an act which ultimately led him to find himself in the belly of a big fish.
Then jumping to today’s text - John 9:1-5 - and reading where Jesus said in verse 4, “We must do the work of Him who sent me as long as it is day. Night is coming when no one can work.”
I have a question…
What are you going to do with “while it is still day” knowing that “night is coming?”
In other words, what is God calling you to do…
Asking you to do…
Guiding you to do…
Directing you to do…
Laying on your heart for you to do while you still can, while it is still day?
Because, there will be a day when you can’t (legally or otherwise) or won’t be able to do it (health or age or financial concerns).
Maybe it’s something that scares you.
Maybe it’s something that you’ve been running from for years.
Or maybe it’s something that has been freshly placed on your heart and mind to do for Him ~ not to somehow earn His favor or grace (because you can’t) or gain His approval (He already loves you and sent His Son to die for you), but something you are supposed to do because of your love for Him and His for you... regardless of fears or other boundaries or walls we see or try to build ourselves.
Which leads me back to this…
I have a question… maybe three.
What are you going to do with Jonah 1:1-3 and John 9:4?
How are you going to respond?
Will you answer God’s call or will you find yourself on the slippery slope?
“The Slippery Slope:
Reluctance: Not wanting to do what we are called to do. Which leads to…
Refusal: Choosing to do something different than what God has called us to. Which leads to…
Rebellion: Doing the opposite of what God has called us to. Which leads to…
Rejection: Refusing to follow God at all.”
- Pastor Matty Finlay
Keep the Faith… Carpe Diem
