Look up, don’t trip! Just jump Jonah, eyes higher!
How often have we heard or given these instructions to our children or heard them ourselves to help us not fall over and hurt ourselves but avoid the mishap. Sometimes we heed it or the other person heeds it, but more often than not we’ve forgotten and get to re learn it. This is the reminder that God’s been speaking to me and I’m sharing with you.
Like.. Beloved child look up see Me, beloved child jump over that, beloved child heads up that could trip you, beloved child eyes on Me as My eyes are on you. I’m reminded of
Psalm 121:1-6 TPT says “I look up to the mountains and hills, longing for God’s help. But then I realize that our true help and protection is only from the Lord, our Creator who made the heavens and the earth. He will guard and guide me, never letting me stumble or fall. God is my keeper; He will never forget nor ignore me. He will never slumber nor sleep; He is the Guardian-God for His people, Israel. Yahweh himself will watch over you; He’s always at your side to shelter you safely in His presence”
My goodness I’m so thankful for how gracious and compassionate Father God to give us this reminder and keep giving it to us in a gentle, caring and honouring tone.
How often do we then get invitation to share this reminder to others we love and get to do life with? I’ve been pondering this especially in lockdown and reminded of Jonah and the Unending, Unshakeable, Unrelentless Love of Father God for him to go and tell the nation I Love them and repent to My way. Wow, selah here,
God loves the nations, God loves the countries, God loves the ones that hurt us and don’t agree with our way, God loves those in our own homes, guess what God loves ALL and His arms are open to them waiting for them to repent and turn to His way!!
My kids, especially my son, loves the story of Jonah, but then who doesn’t? We’ve been watching in lockdown, during starts to early mornings, yep Jonah and others from the bible on Super Book and God is speaking to me and my kids. As you know that God is always speaking just are we listening and leaning in to stop and hear Him? Hmm leaving that to pause.
Jonah, adventure packed with BIG NO, runaway, boat, terrific storm, self-sacrifice, giant fish, time out to reset, a SPIT UP and OUT, relentless LOVE of Father, TURNAROUND, things growing and then dying quickly, so many emotions shared it’s all there! Have a read of Jonah and journal with the Holy Spirit.
As I watched these 2 non negotiables that God has put as benchmark for us all to live out and from, kept coming to mind. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and with all your strength! And Love your neighbour as you love yourself!
If you need a reminder of Love and how you are doing with Loving God and Loving others ask Him and those in your life and see what they say, or read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 for the breakdown of truth to what Love is according to God and how He requires us to show love. Then evaluate your own showing of love by this.
But the verses proceeding it read… “If I were to speak with eloquence in earth’s many languages, and in the heavenly tongues of angels, yet I didn’t express myself with love, my words would be reduced to the hollow sound of nothing more than a clanging cymbal.
And if I were to have the gift of prophecy, with a profound understanding of God’s hidden secrets, and if I possessed unending supernatural knowledge, and if I had the greatest gift of faith that could move mountains, but have never learned to love, then I am nothing.
And if I were to be so generous as to give away everything I owned to feed the poor, and to offer my body to be burned as a martyr, without the pure motive of love, I would gain nothing of value”. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 TPT
Wow LOVE matters so much to God love is God, reading these verses we know Jonah was a prophet, so had prophecy and spoke in way others understood him…. Wow, wonder how different Jonah’s story would read if he had paused and heard God say Love is the benchmark Jonah, Love is My benchmark, how are you going with Loving the ones I’ve called you to Jonah? Yes you give prophecy, you speak clearly but are you motivated and led by Love? Ooh interesting aye.
Let’s pause there and continue next time.
Challenge time: Grab your journal and space to be with the Lord and record all He says to these questions.
1. Is Love my benchmark? Am I led by Love?
2. What areas are you inviting me to live out LOVE as the benchmark?
3. What is my view of You?
4. Where do I need to learn to Love?
5. Choice time: If you are willing and want to embrace this way with Love as the benchmark you go from, then declare it in prayer to the Lord and be with Him.
6. Praise His Name for He is Worthy of All Praise.
Father God, thank You for Love, that You are Love. Would You enable and ignite Love to be the benchmark for the eyes we see every person, place and event from. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Paula Blackie.
Itinerate Pastor
Encounter Ministries
