An Honour

But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.

Jonah 1:3a

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We live with an incredible honour, though we may not always consider it so. God chooses to use us. While He could do whatever He wanted in our world while we sat on the sidelines as spectators, He not only calls upon us to be involved in His work but gives us the gifts that we need to be effective. "To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good." (1 Corinthian 12:7). 

Jonah was called by God to be a prophet. However, when he was first told by God to go to the foreign city of Nineveh, he fled. Jonah likely hated the Assyrians because of their legendary cruelty in war and due to the fact that they were a threat to his homeland of Israel. He didn't want them to have the opportunity to turn away from their sin and taste the forgiveness of God. 

We too might flee from the voice of God. Whether He wants us to be a missionary or a Sunday school teacher, a pastor or a greeter; whether He wants us to share our testimony at work or invite a neighbour to church, there are many reasons which might keep us from wholeheartedly obeying the call of God. 

Is there anything God is laying on our hearts that we have been ignoring? Any gifts we have that go unused?