ANOTHER CHANCE

• DAY 258
• FAITH FILE: JONAH
• SCRIPTURES: JONAH 3:1-4

Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to 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, a three-day journey in extent. And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day’s walk. Then he cried out and said, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!”

As humans we fail. We make mistakes and do stuff that we know we have no business doing. We disobey when we shouldn’t, we run away when we should obey and we find ourselves not doing the good we ought to do. But thank God He doesn’t write us off because we fail. He gives us another chance, multiple chances, in fact, to make the right decision. He did the same for Jonah.

In the belly of the fish, he repented and God offered him another opportunity to do what he was called to do. God gave him a free ride, in the belly of a fish, to the shores of Nineveh. Now Jonah had a decision to make, go back or go straight into the town and do what God had sent him to do. Most of the time we don’t get to take the second chance option. Some of us are still not interested even after going through everything that we’ve gone through. We don’t want to do that. We don’t want to go on the assignment that God has sent us to do. We would rather still hold on to our fears and run away. And sometimes God is gracious enough to still extend another second chance to us. He is patient and long-suffering.

Stop Counting

The reason why it is called a second chance is not because God just gives you only two chances. It’s because the failings of the first one were blotted once you’ve repented, it’s you who is counting. Every encounter you have with Him after repentance becomes the first encounter.

Beloved, if you ran away before, consider that this might be just one of those second chance announcements that God is giving you. The fact that you’re reading this devotional today might be God’s clarion call to go do what He called you to do 10 years ago that you delayed. Now is the time to obey.

Do not be afraid. He’s with you through the process and you’re going to get all of the support, all of the strength, all of the resources you need. He’s backing you with everything you need to fulfill it. Take a moment and ask for strength and grace to obey, to listen, and to move and do what He has called you to do.

Shalom.