The Effects of Obedience

Written by: Elsie R (Photo by: Dylan Nolte)

Has God ever called to go to somewhere and you choose not to go, because of the negative aspects of that location? Well I have and Jonah did too. Jonah was a man in the Bible, that had an assignment to preach the word of God to a city full of very unrighteous people; and because Jonah knew that these people were unrighteous he decided that he was not going to obey that calling. Instead Jonah ran away.

What is obedience?

Obedience is the, "Compliance with an order, request, or Law or submission to another authority"

How many of us have ran away from or disobey God? For a long time I have been running away. I have been trying to avoid a pathway that I never wanted to walk on. I thought my purpose was in a big city, full of people with many different backgrounds, and unique lifestyles but God's plan was the complete opposite. Like Jonah, I didn't realize how my disobedience not only caused a delay in my own life, but also a delay in many others.

• Psalms 119: 60- "I will hurry, without delay, to obey your commands."

After being thrown off a boat and getting swallowed by a fish; Jonah then confessed and made the decision to obey the calling. The good news was that after the people heard his message, they turned from their evil ways and got saved.

I don't think Jonah realized that through his obedience God was able to prevent an entire city from being destroyed. This is what many of us don't realize either. Your obedience can save multiple people's lives. You saying yes and actually acting in God's plan cannot only open the doors for yourself, but also for those around you!!

God has given me a gift and I haven't been using it as much as I should. Let God use you for his will, not yours.

Where has God called you to go? And are you willing to obey and follow?