Reluctant Revivalist

God had a plan. A plan to transform lives on a mass scale. God also had a servant. A man for the mission. A man God prepared for the day. God took the initiative and to communicate the plan. All seemed set in order. Then a problem surfaced. The servant rebelled. He refused the assignment. He defiantly chose to disobey God's clear call.

God's chastisement followed. Stubborn pride persisted in the servant even in the middle of God's rebuke. God has His ways of getting our attention. He did so with this fellow too. He broke him. He broke his will, broke his stubborn pride, broke his rebellion bringing the servant to repentance and submission. It proved a very unpleasant experience for the servant.

Only after that did Jonah obey God to go to Nineveh and preach repentance. God honored that obedience and sent revival to that great city. They repented and turned to God and God spared them from His judgment.

Jonah, the reluctant revivalist, was not happy. He wanted God to judge that city. He did not share God's heart of compassion and gracious ways.

How many of us are just like Jonah? We are reluctant to obey God's call on our lives. If we don't like the assignment, we too rebel. Many have in the past, and many more live in rebellion today. How many children of God are in absolute misery because of God's chastisement? They still refuse to submit and obey.

The school of brokenness is for all the reluctant servants who reject God's assignments. Many have been enrolled. Some of the greatest Christians you have heard of. Each reluctant at one time or another and each pressed under the thumb of God. Pain, sorrows, trials and pressure all designed by God to bring reluctant servants to brokenness and surrender.

It happened for Jonah in the belly of the great fish. For me, it happened at a dumpster behind JC Penney in Weatherford, TX. I don't know where it has or might happen in the future for you. I hope you will repent of your reluctance before then and be spared that misery. May we all be willing servants ready to obey whatever assignment He chooses for us.