The Ballestero Blog

The People We Hurt, While God’s Trying To Help Us.

Many people have run from the will of God. Most of their story endings are not pretty. The running from God is bad enough, but it doesn’t end there. The naïve mindset that thinks, “I’m not hurting anyone but myself,” is dangerous.

Failure to submit to God’s will shows a character defect, which requires immediate attention from the Lord. Remember, the Biblical subjects of Worship, Holiness, Tithe, and Ministry are wrapped up in submission.

Worship is all about submission.

• God, you’re everything, I’m nothing.
• You’re Holy, I’m unholy!
• You’re great and I’m nothing!

Tithing is all about submission.

• The first tenth of my increase belongs to You.
• I put you first in my life.

Holiness is all about submission.

• I dress this way, to please you Lord.
• I act this way, to please you Lord.
• I think this way, to please you Lord.
• I present my body, holy and acceptable unto You, which is my reasonable service.

Ministry is all about submission

• Paul started most of his Epistles with, “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ.”
• Peter, James and John did the same.
• Ministry is all about being a servant.
• Servants must be submissive.

Jonah, God’s servant, ran from his Master’s will. He didn’t want to go where Jehovah wanted him to go. He didn’t want to do what he was asked to do. He wasn’t willing to submit.

Most backsliders provide dangerous company. Who wants to be around a backslider while God is trying to work on them? The backslider, or someone running from God, would never knowingly put anyone in harm’s way. It just happens.

While Jonah ran, God sent a custom-made storm to get his attention. God knows how to build you a prayer room! He knows how to let a set of circumstances come together that will bring you to your knees!

In what was probably a state of depression, Jonah slept aboard ship during the storm. Other passengers were throwing their possessions overboard, but Jonah slept on. He was oblivious to the peril he was causing for others.

When someone finally awakened him, he recognized that he was the cause of everyone’s problem. He didn’t know that, until someone woke him up. Realizing that he was the cause of the storm, he requested that the sailors throw him overboard. They did. He would rather die than submit. Jonah’s actions not only threatened his own life, but the life of everyone around him.

Jonah didn’t want to hurt anyone one. He just wasn’t willing to submit. God stopped Jonah’s little charade in one storm. Jonah had to go through an intense attitude adjustment.

Backsliders, and others that run from God, are a danger to their friends and even to their own families. Too many innocent spouses and children have suffered because of the Jonah in their home. Every church family knows Jonah stories. Most of which are tragic enough to frighten every hearer.

Someone needs to awaken these modern-day Jonahs! Awaken them to the heartache and danger they unwittingly bring to those around them Awaken them to the hurt they cause, even to those they love. Lead them back into the will of God. One of the hardest thing in life to do, is to run from God!

Proverbs 13:15 …the way of transgressors is hard.

Jonah? It’s time to quit running from God!