Yes

He woke up to a new encounter with God. God revealed a new assignment. A clear mission. Not an easy one mind you. Yet, a necessary missionary endeavor. The man could neither deny or mistake the call and will of God. God clearly revealed His assignment.

What he should have done was to submit and obey. What he actually did was to rebel and refuse the missionary call on his life. He did not give God his yes. He rebelled with a defiant no by his actions. He did everything in his power to run away from this call.

Giving God our yes is important. No matter what God requires, commands or calls a person to do. We ought to wake up each day and give God our yes. When we walk into  a worship gathering we ought to give God our yes. Yes in response to the prompting of the Spirit through a message. Yes in response to conviction and a call to repentance. Yes in response to a new direction. God deserves our yes no matter what He commands.

Not our man in the above story. Jonah rebelled. So much so he preferred to be thrown into a tumultuous sea and drown than to follow God's call to that wicked city Nineveh. Jonah resolved to disobey no matter what it cost him.

Trouble is disobedience doesn't just impact the rebellious. Disobedience can impact our families, the people we work around and those we worship alongside. Jonah's rebellion impacted an entire ship of sailors. All of that could have been avoided if Jonah would have just given God His yes.

Thankfully God is gracious. He gave Jonah a second chance and Jonah had time to ponder the situation while trapped in the belly of the fish. He made the wise choice to give God his yes and to obey. He preached in Nineveh and the people repented. God brought a great revival through a reluctant prophet.

Have you given God your yes? Has your rebellion not only impacted your life but also those around you in a negative way? Why not repent and submit today.

Jonah 1-4