JONAH 3:1-3 – Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you.” So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days’ journey in breadth.
THEME OF THE DAY. SECOND CHANCE GRACE. Ever feel like an absolute failure in the Christian life? Does it seem like there are many more spiritual stumbles than spiritual steps of progress? Are the loud words from an accusing devil reminding us of how often we don’t measure up to the Lord drowning out the words of new day mercies from the Lord? Does the spirit of discouragement feel like a blanket smothering you with thoughts like, “Surely God is done with me; He just cannot keep forgiving me for all my continual failings and sins?” Or maybe you have believed the lies of Satan whispering, “You have exhausted God’s mercy. No more chances. Give up. You will never overcome this besetting sin. You will never measure up in your so called ‘Christian walk.’ In fact, maybe you are not even a Christian!”
In today’s scripture, we encountered Jonah; the reluctant prophet who experienced the mercy and grace of God as his God of second chances. His first chance occurred in the beginning of his book. Jonah had been commissioned and commanded by the Lord to go and preach to a rebellious people. His message was one of a call to repentance because God’s wrath was coming upon them – Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.” 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 1:1-3).
A couple of things for our instruction from this portion of Jonah. First, disobedience to God’s clear commands always causes significant personal consequences in our lives and the scary part is we don’t know what they will be, but they will be painful. Next, it is the height of foolishness and deception to think we can escape God by our disobedience. Not happening. His character and love will not allow us to avoid Him, but there is another lesson and a very encouraging one that comes after chapter one. It is in today’s scripture. The lesson? God is the God of second chances – Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time. God did not write Jonah off due to his disobedience, his fear, and his attempts to hide from Him. Not at all. He came to Him with “Second Chance Grace” and Jonah responded in the right way – he obeyed. And friends, the God of Jonah is our God of “Second Chance Grace” as well. Don’t let the devil or your conscience tell you otherwise. Yes, we fail. Yes, we rebel but the God of all grace will teach us valuable lessons through our failings and rebellions. That is what He does, not only as the God of Second Chance Grace, but the God of many chances grace.
PRAYER: “Father, I praise for Your grace and love making You my God of many chances.”
QUOTE: “The steadfast love of the Lord not only never ceases but gives us many second chances.”