Born for a Purpose

A Rejected Mission Read Jonah 1:1-17 The Lord gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.” But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord. He went down to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from the Lord by sailing to Tarshish. But the Lord hurled a powerful wind over the sea, causing a violent storm that threatened to break the ship apart. Fearing for their lives, the desperate sailors shouted to their gods for help and threw the cargo overboard to lighten the ship. But all this time Jonah was sound asleep down in the hold. (Jonah 1:1-5) Reflect Jonah is mentioned in 2 Kings 14:25. He prophesied during the reign of Jeroboam II, the king of Israel from 793–753 b.c. He may have been a member of the company of prophets mentioned in connection w...

Presence! Protection! Security! Forever! | Psalm 73:21-28 Today's Passage: Psalm 73:21-28 Key Verses: Psalm 73:23-24 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.   Asaph was discouraged. Even though he was the leader of one of King David's three Levitical choirs; even though he was serving the Lord; Asaph "envied the arrogant when [he] saw the prosperity of the wicked." Then he gained an eternal perspective. In contrast to the temporary gains of the "wicked," Asaph noted "The God Advantage." Check out four benefits found in today's passage.   I am always with you. The personal relationship we have with the eternal God is more precious than any earthly possession. The Creator is always with us, living in us. Presence! You hold me by my right hand. Asaph said, "...My feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold," but the Fa...

The Death of a Dream | Psalm 72:8-14 Today's Passage: Psalm 72:8-14 Key Verses: Psalm 72:8-11 May he rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. May the desert tribes bow before him and his enemies lick the dust. May the kings of Tarshish and of distant shores bring tribute to him. May the kings of Sheba and Seba present him gifts. May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him .   Solomon, the author of this psalm, was a visionary. He anticipated that his kingdom would extend from sea to sea; from the Euphrates River around the world. Rulers would bring gifts to him and serve him.   The Queen of Sheba (present day Yemen) did bring a load of gifts to Solomon. She was very impressed with his wealth and wisdom. She said, "The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and wisdom is true...indeed not even half was told me." (1 Kings 10)   Unfortunately Solomon's wisdom was not applied with women. When he w...

The Antidote to Discouragement Read 1 Kings 19:1-9 When Ahab got home, he told Jezebel everything Elijah had done, including the way he had killed all the prophets of Baal. So Jezebel sent this message to Elijah: “May the gods strike me and even kill me if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you just as you killed them.” Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there. Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.” Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, “Get up and eat!” He looked around and there beside his head was some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water! So he ate and drank and lay down again. Then the angel of the Lord came again and to...

Bring Me Up Psalm 71:19-24 Today's Passage: Psalm 71:19-24 Key Verse: Psalm 71:20 Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up.   I am discouraged . . . You will again bring me up.   I am heartbroken . . . You will again bring me up.   I feel smothered by grief . . . You will again bring me up.   Job loss. I never saw it coming . . . You will again bring me up.   Illness is taking its toll; still I am confident that . . . You will again bring me up.   My dream just died . . . You will again bring me up.   I am spiritually exhausted . . . You will again bring me up.   I don't feel like praying . . . You will again bring me up.   Father, like the psalmist my troubles are many and bitter. I am discouraged, heartbroken and confused. Still I know in the depths of my heart that you are there. I know that y...

Effective and Productive | 2 Peter 1:5-9 2 Peter 1:5-9   For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. Recently, I attended a memorial service for Lois, a believer who lived her days following hard after Christ. One word that described her entire life was “service.” Not long before this dear saint’s passing, her daughter-in-law took several of Lois’ great-grandchildren to visit her in a care facility. They became worried when she was not in her room and began searching fo...