THEME:
DIVINE CALL AND RESPONSE
Jonah 1:3
“But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord So he went down to Joppa, found a ship which was going to Tarshish, paid the fare and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.”
MEDITATION
Jonah was chosen by God to be a missionary to the gentiles. Unlike the majority of Israelite prophets, who were sent to the Jewish Nation. Jonah objected to the Lord’s demonstration of mercy and grace towards the Gentiles. He did not approve of God’s mercy being extended towards these pagans, and so he decided to run away. Jonah refused to obey God’s word and attempted to run away from His God-ordained mission. Indeed, he ran in the opposite direction. Instead of going to Nineveh in the east, he went to the west. Often times we do the opposite of what we are sent to do. Jonah ran away to escape God’s call on his life. We have had to equally run away from divine assignment either by rejecting certain responsibility or ignoring some instructions.
PRAYERS
1 Hail Mary 21 times and Thank you Jesus 21 times.
2 Bible Study: Jeremiah 7
3 Lessons:
Obedience is a key for Kingdom growth.
Obedience brings God’s blessings!
4 Silence (5 to 10 minutes) (write down your own lessons; learn to hear from God and write down whatever God says to you)
5 The Litany to the Precious Blood of Jesus (as given on the first day)
6 Intercessory Prayers:
Heavenly Father, I fear I am too ready and willing to criticise the behaviour of people like Jonah, who tried to circumnavigate Your word in order to escape carrying out Your plans and purposes in their life. Forgive me for the times I have turned a deaf ear to Your call or a blind eye to Your word of truth. Help me to be ready and willing to go where You would send me, to do what You would tell me to do and to develop a Christ-like heart of compassion for souls that are lost and bound for eternal separation from You. I pray that many would hear the truth and turn from their sin to faith in Christ’s finished work on Calvary. Help me to be alert to the promptings of the Holy Spirit in my life and to be ready and willing to do only those things that come from You – this I ask in Jesus’ name, AMEN.
7. Memory verse:Jeremiah 7:23
“But this command I gave them: ‘Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.’”
Fr. Daniel Evbotokhai
