JONAH’S JOURNEY: THE CALL

Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.” Jonah 1:1-2

REFERENCE
Jonah 1:1-3

Jonah got a call from God that was as clear and as specific as possible. It was directed to a place (Nineveh) and a particular people, meaning that there was a mission field. There was a reason and a purpose for the call (the wickedness of the people of Nineveh had come before God) and there was a message given him. But like some people would do, Jonah after getting such a precise call from God ran away from the presence of God, not eager to fulfil that call.

Like Jonah, you are not on earth for nothing, God has an assignment for your life, and it is your responsibility to find it out. At some point in your life, God will show up with a specific call or assignment for you – perhaps, a call into ministry, to start a non-governmental initiative, get trained in a particular field, open a business, etc. Be certain however, when God calls you to fulfill an assignment, these four qualities also must be present:

1. A definiteness that it is God that has called you and that you have not called yourself – you must be certain that it is God that called, that you are not moving by your own whims.

2.  It must have a place for its fulfillment – for Jonah it was to go to Nineveh; there must be a particular location where the assignment must be carried out.

3. It must be directed to a specific people group – e.g., underprivileged children, displaced people, widows, intellectuals, university students, market women, etc.

4. There must be a particular message the people must be told; you must have something you are selling.

Sometimes, God may also give a reason for such a call, as we see with Jonah. More so, when God called Moses, He told him He had heard the oppression of His people in Egypt and wanted Moses to go and rescue them; so, that became the reason for Moses’ call. God has a work to do on earth – He has a people to reach, heal, save, deliver, encourage, etc., and He needs people to reach these people; that is why He calls. It is important that you know what God has called you to do, in order to fulfill it.

It is a privilege for God to call you to use you for anything at all; so, if you have a call from God, answer it. Arise quickly; give yourself to the call/mission with speed, determination and courage, knowing that it is a God-given mission. Those that go on God’s errands must rise and go; they must rouse themselves to the work cut out for them.

PHOTO QUOTE

ADDITIONAL STUDY                                                
Exodus 3:1-10, Jeremiah 1:1-10, & Ephesians 4:1-6

PRAYER
Lord, I ask for grace to walk worthy of the call with which you have called me. I receive renewed strength to arise quickly, give myself to Your call with determination and courage and to fulfill it in Jesus’ name.