SCRIPTURE
“When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, Lord, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple. Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them. But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the lord.’” Jonah 2:7-9
SPOTLIGHT
American singer, songwriter David Crosby, was a rock ‘n’ roller founder of the Byrds, and Crosby, Stills and Nash. His band was influential in Bob Dylan’s first hit. Crosby said, “I have to play music. Music is the best thing in my life, the strongest faith I have, the most positive force. It gets me much higher than drugs ever will. It’s my salvation, man.” Do you agree in any way with his belief? Music is a powerful force and far better than drugs. But what will Crosby do when he can no longer play, sing, or write music.
What is the best thing in your life? What do you really have to do that gives you meaning to life? Where do you put your faith? WHAT IS YOUR MOST POSITIVE FORCE? What is your salvation?
Jonah had a personal relationship with God, but felt that God did not know what He was doing when He directed Jonah to preach the Good News in Nineveh. Jonah decided the best thing in life was to do things his way… to believe in himself, and become his own positive force. So, he put his faith in himself and ran from God, as well as Godly direction. He was convinced he could save himself. However, God loved him so much God pursued him and brought things, like a whale, into his life to lead him to reconsider. Maybe you need to reconsider your faith and most positive force. Jonah’s story is worth reading for many reasons but in particular, it will direct you to place your faith in God, and allow Him to be your most positive force.
Let me identify some take-away lessons when you ask the question, “ WHAT IS YOUR MOST POSITIVE FORCE?”
God gives the best to you. Music cannot give it. James 1:17 states, “Every good and perfect gift is from above coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
Faith in Christ is much stronger than faith in music. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” [Ephesians 2:10]. Music or anything else cannot provide for you a well-planned, meaningful life. But Jesus does!
The living God is without question the most positive force you can choose for life. David testified in Psalm 27:1,2, “The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid? When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall.”
Never forget that only Jesus Christ can save a person. When you reach life’s end, where will you spend eternity? Music, or anything else, certainly does not answer that question. In the belly of the whale, Jonah realized that, “Salvation comes from the Lord.” [Jonah 2:9]. Paul the Apostle, who at one time believed that all the important questions in life were answered by being good, wrote in Ephesians 2:8-9, “ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Why not ask Jesus Christ to become your SALVATION, your SONG, your SOURCE of music?
SOMETHING TO DO
Why does the life of Jesus Christ inspire you?
What actions of Jesus encourage you to do the same?
Where would you be if Jesus had not loved you, and saved you from doing life your way?
SOUL TIME PRAYER
Heavenly Father, today I must thank You for sending Your Son to become my salvation. He has given me a song to sing, and become my source of music for life’s journey. AMEN!