Down

Have you ever felt like you were going down? Down into temptation? Down into discouragement? Down into depression?

God's prophet Jonah went down and just kept going down as he ran from God's presence, for his own sake:

1. Jonah went down to Joppa (Jonah 1:3).
2. He went down into the ship (1:3).
3. He went down into the lowest parts of the ship (1:5).
4. He went down into the sea (1:15).
5. He went down into the belly of the fish (1:17).

Jonah's experience is a picture of Jesus' experience. Jesus went down and just kept going down as He painfully and sacrificially ran from God the Father's presence, for our sake:

1. Jesus went down to Earth (John 1:14).
2. He went down to Nazareth (Luke 2:51).
3. He went down to the lowest parts of humanity--to the level of a servant (Philippians 2:7).
4. He went down into death (Philippians 2:8a).
5. He went down into the most humiliating form of death--the death of a criminal (Philippians 2:8b).

Jesus went down further than you or I will ever go. When you feel tempted, discouraged, or depressed, remember that He has felt that exact way. And because He went down, He can and is waiting to lift you up!

God lifted Jonah up from the lowest point he could have gone to save an entire city when he prayed his prayer of complete surrender (Jonah 2:1-9). God the Father lifted Jesus up from the lowest point He could have gone to save an entire planet when He prayed His prayer of complete surrender (Matthew 26:39). And God will lift you up when you pray your prayer of complete surrender (James 4:10).


He's done it for me, and He is aching to do it for you!