Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
November 12, 2024
Jonah 1:9-17
9 He said to them, “I’m a Hebrew. I worship the LORD, the God of heaven—who made the sea and the dry land.” 10 Then the men were terrified and said to him, “What have you done?” (The men knew that Jonah was fleeing from the LORD, because he had told them.) 11 They said to him, “What will we do about you so that the sea will become calm around us?” (The sea was continuing to rage.) 12 He said to them, “Pick me up and hurl me into the sea! Then the sea will become calm around you. I know it’s my fault that this great storm has come upon you.” 13 The men rowed to reach dry land, but they couldn’t manage it because the sea continued to rage against them. 14 So they called on the LORD, saying, “Please, LORD, don’t let us perish on account of this man’s life, and don’t blame us for innocent blood! You are the LORD: whatever you want, you can do.” 15 Then they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased its raging. 16 The men worshipped the LORD with a profound reverence; they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made solemn promises. 17 Meanwhile, the LORD provided a great fish to swallow Jonah. Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights.
Good Morning! Give thanks with a grateful heart!
I love to go to the beach and watch the waves come in. Sometimes, there is a rhythmic pattern to the ebb and flow, but other times, the movement seems random, and just when you think you have it figured out, a wave comes rushing towards you. Despite the ocean’s calming effect on me, I hold great respect for the power that lies within those waves.
I would guess that even the bravest, most experienced sailors have times when the seas become gnarly, and they feel fear. Those of us novice travelers on the ocean quickly become worried as the waves increase in intensity. We have seen the waves rip houses from their foundations and toss large ships like toys. In the ocean, we feel vulnerable.
Another facet of ocean travel is the fear that ensues when you can no longer see land. For me, there is some sense that if I can see the land in the distance, then (as far fetched as it is) in case of an emergency, I could swim or float to the shore.
Jonah is running from the Lord’s calling. He has doubts and is fearful, so it seems like a good idea to run and hide from God. Many pastors share stories of a time they avoided God’s calling. I smile when I think of Lowell’s attempt to escape God’s calling.
He was a modern-day Jonah! God called him as a young man, and he dutifully answered, but he became disenfranchised with the process and doubted his calling. He left the candidacy program and found himself needing a job in an economically depressed time and place, and as fate (or more likely, God’s mysterious ways) would have it, he went with a nephew to a recruiting office and enlisted in the U.S. Navy.
After nine years of growing as a sailor, God called again, and this time, Lowell was ready. He spent the remainder of his life serving God as a UM pastor. God calls each of us to serve. Not all are called as pastors. God calls us to serve him with the gifts we have received.
Dear Lord, We are your children! We are fearful when we have doubts. We don’t like feeling vulnerable. Thank you for standing with us when we feel weak. Thank you! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: How is God calling you to serve?
When God calls, listen and follow! Pastor Liz
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