Jonah got into a boat and went in the opposite direction where God wanted him to go. At this point, he would not have any peace in his heart because he was in rebellion against God. He knew what was right, but he refused to obey. While Jonah was sound asleep in the boat, God sent a violent storm on the sea, and the ship was about to break up. The sailors became afraid and cried out to their gods because they knew their ship would sink in a moment. They tried desperately to survive, so they threw all their cargo to lighten the ship. While all this was going on, Jonah was sleeping below the ship. One of the lessons that we can learn from this situation is that our sin affects others. Many believe that when we sin, we only hurt ourselves. However, this is a wrong understanding of sin. Our sins affect everyone. God says in Isaiah 48:22, "There is no peace for the wicked." The men on the ship were affected by Jonah's sin.
Our sins can bring pain, sorrow, destruction, and even death to those we love. Our sins can have a ripple effect that affects the people around us. It is even possible that our sins can affect the future generation. As believers of our Lord Jesus, let us not take sin lightly. There is no such thing as small and big sins. In God's eyes, all sins are the same. A small lie can turn us to become liars. Our small compromises can lead us to become apathetic toward God. Romans 12:21 says, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." I believe that the reason Jonah was asleep during the storm was that he was depressed and lack of motivation. He could only find solace in his sleep because of his rebellion. Sin takes away peace from our hearts.
The only way to overcome sin is to repent and ask God for forgiveness. We cannot stay in sin and expect spiritual growth and experience the peace of God. We have to let go of sin by confessing to our God and turning away from it. 1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Ask yourself these questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully and meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speaks to you). Is there a sin in my heart that I am holding on to? How do I deal with my sins before God? What did God promise if I confess my sin to Him?
Write down all the worries you face today and lift them up to God.
Prayer:
Father in Heaven, I confess my sins to you, and please forgive me for all the sins that I have done. Do not let my heart be hardened by any sin. Please help me overcome the sins in my heart and repent so that I may enjoy your peace and joy. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Comments