Turning from Tarshish

04/09/21 – 04/20/21

A Willing Witness

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  04/09/21

God wants us to tell others about His love—not only through our words, but also through our actions. Saying “Jesus loves you” is not enough. We need to demonstrate how God’s love has changed our hearts and our souls. We need to be willing to submit fully to God’s control over our lives as a living testimony.

It’s easy to do God’s work when the recipient is someone we care for—but what happens when God wants us to minister to someone who is offensive, obnoxious, or condescending?

Like Jonah, sometimes we are called to witness to people we don’t feel great compassion toward—neighbors or co-workers we don’t like or acquaintances who intimidate us.

Jonah’s response to God’s calling was one of rebellion and resistance. Instead of heading for Nineveh, he ran for Tarshish. Instead of obedience, he chose to flee from God and from His call.

Has God placed a call on your heart to witness to a particular person or to serve Him in a certain way? How have you responded? Are you on your way to Nineveh—or have you boarded the ship for Tarshish?

Prayer: God, forgive me for the times I have not ministered to someone when I should have. I pray that You would give me a new compassion for others and a desire to be a witness for You to everyone I meet. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Now may the God of peace, . . . equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (Hebrews 13:20-21).