The Word of God is a wonderful gift! By His Word God created the heavens and earth. God’s Word transform lives! And God is willing to entrust His Word to us who are seldom aware of what a great gift it is to us.
“Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah…” [1] God gave Jonah His Word, and what did Jonah do with it? “Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.” [2] Like so many, his initial response was to run from God. God wants us to receive and believe His Word, and to help others do the same.
“The Lord sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken up.” [3] In a sense, the storm symbolized God’s faithfulness to Jonah. He was not going to let Jonah flee from Him unchallenged. First, God sent a storm, and then, He sent a great fish. “Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.” [4]
What did Jonah do?” Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the fish’s belly.” [5] “So the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.” [6] Was that the end of the story? No. “Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time…” [7] God gave Jonah another opportunity to receive His Word and bear fruit with it. Jonah preached God’s Word and his audience didn’t flee from the Lord, they fled to Him. “So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them.” [8] His listeners repented to God and were spared from the consequences of sin.
Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” [9] “I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” [10] “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” [11] He urges us to abide in Him who is the Living Word. While in Him, in Christ, fruit comes forth from us.
To be chosen to receive and proclaim, God’s Word is a gift of God. Jesus said, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.” [12] Notice the mention of prayer! When Jonah prayed about what God said instead of fleeing from Him, good fruit came forth. Jesus urged us to pray to the Father in His Name for success.
“But when the Helper [the Holy Spirit] comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.” [13] Receive the Word of the Lord. Pray about it. Rely on the Holy Spirit as you testify for God.
[1] Jonah 1:1
[2] Jonah 1:3
[3] Jonah 1:4
[4] Jonah 1:17
[5] Jonah 2:1
[6] Jonah 2:10
[7] Jonah 3:1
[8] Jonah 3:5
[9] John 15:1-2
[10] John 15:5
[11] John 15:8
[12] John 15:16
[13] John 15:26
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