The Cost of Sin
“But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.” - Jonah 1:3
If you have read the story of Jonah, then you know he is the one who was swallowed by the whale. He was swallowed because of his disobedience to God. God asked him to go to Nineveh, and instead, Jonah goes the exact opposite way to Tarshish, which was over 3,000 miles in the other direction.
Jonah 1:3 says, “But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.”
What is interesting though is that to go to Tarshish, he first had to get on a boat at Joppa. To get on this boat, Jonah had to pay. Don’t miss this: sometimes sin will cost you everything you got. Sin is costly.
When you run from God, it will cost you more than you want to pay and make you stay longer than you want to stay. It always seems good in the moment. It makes us want it “right now.” But you will always look back and regret it after the moment of instant gratification.
In what area or areas of your life is sin costing you? “Cost” could come in a variety of different ways. Sin could be costing you money. It could be costing you time. It could be costing you relationships. It could be costing you your future.
What is sin costing you? Is it worth it?
If you have read the story of Jonah, then you know he is the one who was swallowed by the whale. He was swallowed because of his disobedience to God. God asked him to go to Nineveh, and instead, Jonah goes the exact opposite way to Tarshish, which was over 3,000 miles in the other direction.
Jonah 1:3 says, “But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.”
What is interesting though is that to go to Tarshish, he first had to get on a boat at Joppa. To get on this boat, Jonah had to pay. Don’t miss this: sometimes sin will cost you everything you got. Sin is costly.
When you run from God, it will cost you more than you want to pay and make you stay longer than you want to stay. It always seems good in the moment. It makes us want it “right now.” But you will always look back and regret it after the moment of instant gratification.
In what area or areas of your life is sin costing you? “Cost” could come in a variety of different ways. Sin could be costing you money. It could be costing you time. It could be costing you relationships. It could be costing you your future.
What is sin costing you? Is it worth it?
Free Email Devotional - Sign Up Now
Recent
Archive
2026
January
When Prayer Feels Like Bad ReceptionTeach Us to Pray AgainRelationship Over RequestsPulled Toward HeavenWhen God Says No, Slow, Grow, or GoPray Bigger PrayersPray Without Ceasing in Real LifeWhen Persistence Feels PointlessWhen Darkness Reacts to LightWorship as WarfareChains Fall in His PresenceNot Who I Used to BeWhen God Reveals the BattleNo Fear in the Presence of PowerSet Free to WorshipVictory Is NowWhat You Love, You ShareGod Has a Brag Book, and You’re in ItThe Moment You Missed and the Mercy That RemainsBetter Today Than YesterdayAvailability Over AbilityThe Search for SignificanceWhen God Sets Up the MomentExplain the Hope Within YouThe Gospel Starts Where People AreSalt Has to Leave the ShakerWhat Defines You Determines YouYou’re Richer Than You RealizeThe Quiet Sin No One ConfessesYou Can’t Serve Two MastersThe Token That Stopped Spending
February
A Prophetic EarLearning the Voice You Hear Every DayAdopted, Not ToleratedThe Same Spirit Lives in YouWhy Jesus Chose DependenceExisting Versus Truly LivingWhen God Interrupts Your RoutineConviction Calls You Up, Not OutHe Who Gets the Son Gets It AllLet the Word Get in YouThe Book You Never FinishWhen You Finally Taste What’s BetterGod Is Speaking Every Time You Open the BibleFreedom Comes from Knowing the TruthThe Holy Spirit Works with What You StoreYou Might Be the Only Bible They ReadThe Word You Read Today Might Be for Someone Else TomorrowA Love Letter, Not a Rule BookFaith That Moves Without ProofWhen Desperation Strips Away DignityTrusting God in the SmokeThe Miracle Was Not Just for YouWhen Familiarity Kills ExpectationThe Timing of God Is Never AccidentalA Savior Who Shows Up to Ordinary MomentsWhen the Wine Runs OutTake It to Jesus FirstDo Whatever He Tells You to Do
2025
January
Why Me?Ordinary but ChosenYour Past Prepares You for God's FutureWhy Not Me?The Burden of PreparationIt’s Bigger Than YouJust Show UpAnchored in PrayerBreakthrough Was Always God's PlanWaiting on Your BreakthroughTransformative Power of PrayerThe Art of PrayerThe God of BreakthroughKryptoniteLifelineThe Dare of DependenceWho Needs Your Prayers?Soaring in PrayerObedience Through PrayerThe Power of Prayer in Overcoming TemptationIs Your Heart Prepared for God's Mighty Work?The Joy of SimplicityPatient in Affliction, Faithful in PrayerBurning PrayersWhile You Wait...He WorksChoosing His Will with Free WillEquipped for Victory: Overcoming Sin from WithinEverydayThe Great I AMSaying Yes to GodOrdinary People, Extraordinary God

No Comments