Spit It Out
Today’s Verse:
And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land. ~Jonah 2:10
Have you ever eaten something that not only did not taste edible, but did not sit well with your stomach? If you have, you have probably spit it out. I know this sounds crude, but when we spew something out, it is a reaction to something that does not agree with our sense of what is acceptable. There are some things spiritually that we should feel sick to the stomach about and spit out before they become seriously harmful.
We see the indulgences.
“Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.” An indulgence is something that we consume or participate in to gratify an inclination or a desire. First, there can be sinful indulgences, where we seek to satisfy fleshly or sensual desires outside of the boundaries God has set for us. Second, there can be an overindulgence in something. Either way, we must be on guard. When it is a sinful indulgence, we should spit it out before we swallow it. When it is an overindulgence, we should spit it out when we realize that we are consuming or doing too much.
We see the impenitent.
“As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.” Using this analogy, Solomon is teaching us about the person who has not learned from his mistake or sin. When a dog eats something that does not agree with its stomach, it will vomit it out. Yet, a dog lacks sense to know that it should not eat its own vomit. An impenitent person knows that sin is wrong and that there are hard consequences that we face when we sin. Yet, he foolishly repeats the same sin. Do not be a victim of the same sin once it has been spat out. Never return to something that you know will make you spiritually ill.
We see the insubordination.
Jonah was a rebellious preacher. He tried running from God and his responsibility, but eventually, God had a whale ready to swallow him. The good news is that Jonah got right with God in the belly of the whale. Jonah 2 records his prayer inside the whale. When God knew that he was repentant and contrite, He commanded the whale to spit him out on dry land. Being disobedient and rebellious should put a bad taste in our mouth and stomach. It certainly does to God and those who are spiritually mature. If you are struggling with submission to God, ask the Lord to make you sick of your disobedience, and He will enable you to spit it out.
We see the indifference.
“So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” The church at Laodicea was called lukewarm. This was a church that became comfortable with its success and, consequently, became apathetic and indifferent to spiritual things. It was unmoved, lacking in enthusiasm, and unconcerned about anything and everyone. Jesus said that this spiritual condition makes Him so sick that He will spit that type of believer out of His mouth. We should feel the same way. We should be sick of a lukewarm state, even to the point of spitting it out. We must keep our hearts with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life. Be aware of the spiritual dangers that can make you sick. When you sense that any of these conditions is encroaching upon your life, be ready to spit it out.
Have a healthy God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Job 21-23