Pastor Bell's Words To Live By

When Jonah ran away from the commands of the Lord he ended up in the belly of a large fish. For all intense and purposes he was dead. It is from here that he prayed in the spirit since the human spirit is eternal. It is not clear whether he was conscious or unconscious, however it is recorded that Jonah said that it was while his life was ebbing away that he prayed 2:7. When we go in the opposite direction from God’s original, it is obvious that we will die and for many, unlike Jonah, they do not get a second chance to be redeemed. It is also interesting that Jonah’s last recoded words from the belly of the fish is one of thanksgiving. Here he is, in the throes of anguish and at the point of death and he proclaims that he remembers the Lord. He doesn’t curse God or complain about his position. He remembers the Lord, gives him thanks and reverts to his original calling. “I will pay my vows”, he says 2v.9. For some of us it is at the point of no return that we confess our faults and try to make amends for our past wrongs. It is from this watery grave that Jonah is given a second chance to fulfil the calling on his life; God commands the fish to vomit him out. Today when the word of the Lord comes to us, let us test and confirm it before making rash decisions. Let us also be aware that God always has someone to do his bidding. So if the Lord has called you, do not run in the opposite direction or dismiss the calling. It could have dire consequences for you and those whom you associate with. In our busyness let us make time to listen to the voice of the Lord. Read Jonah 2.