SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 10/14/2025 9:33 AM
My Worship Time Focus: PT-3 “A Heart of Consecration”
Bible Reading and Meditation Reference: Jonah 2:8-9
Message of the verses:
“Those who regard worthless idols
Forsake their lovingkindness,
But as for me, I will sacrifice to You
With the voice of thanksgiving.
That which I have vowed I will pay.
Salvation belongs to Yahweh.”
In this morning’s SD we will begin to look at Jonah’s full rejection of Idolatry as he exclaimed, “But as for me.” In doing this he thereby declared his intention to stand in contrast to the unbelieving world (cf. Rom. 12:1-2; James 4:4; 1 Peter 4:1-6). Now in doing so, Jonah articulated three resolutions for his life as he consecrated himself to the LORD. First, Jonah resolved to respond with worship and thanksgiving. Jonah declares, “I will sacrifice to You,” reflecting his hope-filled expectation that he would participate in temple worship again (cf. Jonah 2:4). “"So I said, ‘I have been expelled from Your sight. Nevertheless I will look again toward Your holy temple.’” Sacrifice is the generic word describing various kinds of offerings to God, including burnt offerings of dedication, grain offerings of gratitude, and peace offerings to signify fellowship (Lev. 1-3). Now these sacrifices all express worship, a priority for all of God’s people (cf. John 4:24; Rom. 12:1-2). Jonah purposed to live such a life of worship with the voice of thanksgiving. Now as we look at the unredeemed we see they are characterized by thanklessness; “For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened” (Rom. 1:21). However believers are called to live in constant gratitude (cf. Eph. 5:20; Col. 3:16). They know and appreciate what God has done for them (cf. Rom. 7:25; 1 Tim. 1:12). Now in response to his deliverance, Jonah determined to cultivate a heart of gratitude that manifested itself in thanksgiving as the core of his worship.
I will now quote from John MacArthur’s commentary to look at the second resolution for Jonah’s life: “Second, Jonah resolved to renew his commitments to the Lord, saying, ‘that which I have vowed I will pay.’ Although people make vows rashly or with wrong motives (cf. Gen. 28:20; Judg. 11:30), true vows express one’s dedication to the Lord in light of His mighty work (cf. Num. 6:2; 30:3; Deut. 12:17; 23:22). By making such a solemn promise to God, Jonah pledged not to forget God’s lovingkindness but to live in light of it (cf. 1 Sam. 1:11; Ps. 132:2). He resolved to be a man of faithful action, not empty words (cf. James 1:22; 1 John 3:18; 4:20). Paying a vow can refer to a range of activities, such as offering a certain kind of sacrifice (Deut 12:6), setting aside something for special service (1 Sam. 1:11), or even giving up one’s own life for a certain purpose (Lev. 27; Num. 6:12). In Jonah’s prayer, the vow likely centered around Jonah’s duties as a prophet, including the Lord’s commission for him to go to Nineveh (cf. Jonah 3:1). By announcing that he would pay his vows, Jonah declared his intention to obey God and submit to His will.
“Interestingly, Jonah’s response was the same as that of the sailors, who also offered a sacrifice and made vows to Yahweh (cf. 1:16). Therefore, Jonah was not to think of himself as better than the Gentiles. His sin was equally severe (see discussion on 2:8), his deliverance equally undeserved (see discussion on 2:10 below), and his repentance equally accepted by God. The rest of Scripture reiterates those realities. All people (whether Jew or Gentile) have sinned (Rom. 3:23); all who believe are saved by grace apart from works (Rom. 3:27; Eph. 2:8-9; 2 Tim. 1:9); and all the redeemed are empowered by God to walk in obedience (cf. Eph. 2:10; Phil. 2:12-13; 1 Peter 1:1-2). The gifts of justification and sanctification are given by God to Jew and Gentile alike (cf. Rom. 1:16; 3:22; 1 Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:28; Col. 3:11). For this reason, no one ought to consider himself more highly than another (cf. Rom. 12:10; Phil. 2:3-4).”
Spiritual Meaning for My Life today: It is my desire to repent of any sins in my life and trust the Lord to cause me to walk with Him the way that He desires for me to walk with Him.
My Steps of Faith for Today: Continue to trust the Lord to guide my wife as she is now living with cancer and so she needs the wisdom of the Lord to show her His way to defeat it.
10/14/2025 8:48 AM
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