Only Where He Calls

Only Where He Calls
Words of Faith 9-21-2023
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2023
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Jonah 1
[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.

The Word of the Lord had come to Jonah. How do we know that Jonah understood? Because he ran! Had there been any confusion, Jonah would not likely have run away. The problem was not one of uncertainty or even lack of clarity. Jonah knew exactly what it was that God was requesting and he chose to run.
Though he was a prophet familiar with the ways of God and the power of the Almighty, Jonah still chose to head in the opposite direction. Why? It may have been fear because the Ninevites could be a treacherous people. It may have been a control issue, a desire to choose for himself the direction of life. It may have just been that old rebellious sinful nature that chooses the opposite of what the Lord directs. We do not know for sure. All we know for sure is that Jonah hopped on a boat and headed in the wrong direction.
When I was in graduate school, I had the privilege to visit Dr. Charles Stanley, pastor of First Baptist Church of Atlanta, while he was recuperating in the hospital from a bad flu. As a chaplain in clinical training, I was assigned to his floor. Imagine my surprise when he showed up on my list of new patients! I was a bit in awe of this great preacher. As I visited with him, Dr. Stanley was very kind and interested in my ministry.
It was the fifth and last day that he was there in the hospital and Dr Stanley shared some thoughts with me. He said: "Jeff, there is one piece of advice that is so important. Go only where God calls you to go. Never try to change where it is that God calls you. Listen to Him and obey, and you will never regret it." I have never forgotten that advice, and, have always sought to heed it, even when those around me did not understand.
Jonah could have used Dr. Stanley's advice. Go where God tells you to go. Go only where God tells you to go. Do what God tells you to do.
Where are you today in relation to the call of God in your life? Are you headed in the way that God desires? Or are you on a boat of your own choosing? Have you settled into a comfortable place away from the real goal that God has for you? There is a word in the Bible for getting back in the right direction. That word is repentance.

Lord, help me to hear clearly. Give me the courage to respond to Your call on my life. Stir in me a spirit of repentance should I veer from Your directed path. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2023
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2023 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.