Jonah 1:1-3

Jonah 1:1-3 (ESV): “Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.” 3 But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.”

Calling Jesus Lord and actually living as though He is Lord are two very different things. Doing what He says tells the real story.

Jonah was a prophet who lived during the reign of Jeroboam II (about 793–753 B.C.). The Assyrians were deeply profane before the Lord, yet God graciously gave them an opportunity to repent before judgment came. The Lord sent Jonah to proclaim that message. However, because the Israelites hated the Assyrians, Jonah did not want to preach to them. Instead, he disobeyed God and went in the opposite direction of where the Lord had sent him. His disobedience revealed who was truly ruling his life.

If God were to call you to preach a message of repentance to your worst enemy, would you do it? This is a matter of lordship. Is Jesus truly the Lord of your life or not? Jesus said, “Why do you call me ‘Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” (Luke 6:46). The proof is found in our willingness to obey. When you do what God calls you to do, you send a clear message about who is truly running your life.  Obey Him!

Father, Your ways are better than ours. May we be obedient and allow You to be Lord—not just by title, but by function. We pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.