First Christian Church | Pittsfield

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Tuned To God

03.22.22 | Elder's Corner | by Hamer Tate

    The story of Jonah begins with Jonah 1:1 (NIV)  1 The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” 3 But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD.

    Most of us know the rest of the story: The ship encounters a violent storm, Jonah is cast overboard, saved by being swallowed by a whale, and three days later God commands the fish to vomit Jonah onto dry land.

    That sounds like a whale of a tale, but what could it teach us?  How is your prayer life?  Do you talk to God daily?  Read His word?  But do you take time to listen to any response from your prayers?  Do we take time from all the hustle ad bustle of this busy life to really tune in to the God channel and chart out what might be broadcasting today or are we afraid it might be something inconvenient like what God said to Jonah?  “Go to Nineveh!” 

    When Jonah found himself out of the fish and on the beach, God spoke to him again.  Jonah 3:2-3a (NIV)  2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.” 3 Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh.

    Do we have the courage to listen to God’s answers to our prayers?  Will we have the fortitude and discipline to obey God’s commands?  Are we afraid we will have to make hard choices ad cancel our reservations on the ship to Tarshish?

    1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)  16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

    Circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.  We are to pray continually, but we must also listen for our reply, if we have the courage!  What is God saying to you?  Are you tuned in to God’s channel or are you dialed in to the worldly entertainment channel?  Pray and listen!

    Hamer Tate, Elder