May 30 | Jonah 1:14-16

“Finally they called out to the Lord and said, “Please Lord, please don’t let us perish because of this man’s life and don’t put on us innocent blood, for you, Lord, have done just as you pleased.” Then they raised up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and it stopped from its raging. And the men surely feared exceedingly the Lord and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows.” (Jonah 1:14–16)

Some Christians suggest that God uses us in our disobedience. When we don’t do his will he still does what he wants. If we sin against him his grace still increases.

That’s not how it works. When you sin against the Lord it hinders his plan for your life. From God called Jonah to go to the Ninevites, his arch enemies, but he went the opposite way. He boarded a boat and traveled away from Nineveh. God had to make a storm attack Jonah and the sailors.

Out of their absolute fear of the Lord, and I’m not talking about reverence for God, they prayed to him and begged him not to kill them all. God was working in spite of Jonah. Because of his disobedience God was punishing him and everyone around him.

When they tossed Jonah into the sea God immediately stopped the storm. These unsaved sailors couldn’t believe it would just stop like that. So they worshiped the Lord and offered him a sacrifice. God worked in spite of Jonah, not with him in his disobedience.

Action Step: Don’t be disobedient against God’s will. Whatever good happens in your disobedience God works in spite of you. Turn to the Lord in obedience and surrender yourself to him.

Lord Jesus, I don’t want to be disobedient and hinder you from working great things in my life. I surrender myself,, every little part of me, do you. Work through me, not in spite of me.