THE RELUCTANT WITNESS
Jonah 1:6
"So the captain came to him, and said to him, 'What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God; perhaps your God will consider us, so that we may not perish.' "
Jonah was missing an opportunity to impact his situation. Instead of boldly proclaiming his faith in God, he was sleeping. I suspect that the captain's request was not based in an understanding that Jonah served Yahweh – the true God, but that he was urging Jonah to join the rest of the mariners as they cried out to their "gods" (vs 5). It wasn't until Jonah was backed into a corner with the question, "Who are you?" that he gave a clear witness of his faith – "I am a Hebrew and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, Who made the sea and the dry land" (vss. 8-9). How unlike another man who was in a similar situation on a ship in a storm that was about to be destroyed. Paul, the Apostle, was not afraid to declare, "I believe God" (Acts 27:25). May we Christians be bold like Paul in our witness as our ship (the world) is facing destruction, and not be like Jonah – a reluctant witness.
TODAY'S THOUGHT: As believers in the true God, we have the choice to sleep or to boldly declare our faith.
Have a bold day. Love you.
Jonah 1:6
"So the captain came to him, and said to him, 'What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God; perhaps your God will consider us, so that we may not perish.' "
Jonah was missing an opportunity to impact his situation. Instead of boldly proclaiming his faith in God, he was sleeping. I suspect that the captain's request was not based in an understanding that Jonah served Yahweh – the true God, but that he was urging Jonah to join the rest of the mariners as they cried out to their "gods" (vs 5). It wasn't until Jonah was backed into a corner with the question, "Who are you?" that he gave a clear witness of his faith – "I am a Hebrew and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, Who made the sea and the dry land" (vss. 8-9). How unlike another man who was in a similar situation on a ship in a storm that was about to be destroyed. Paul, the Apostle, was not afraid to declare, "I believe God" (Acts 27:25). May we Christians be bold like Paul in our witness as our ship (the world) is facing destruction, and not be like Jonah – a reluctant witness.
TODAY'S THOUGHT: As believers in the true God, we have the choice to sleep or to boldly declare our faith.
Have a bold day. Love you.
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