Scripture: Jonah 3:1-10 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”
Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it. Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.
When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh:
“By the decree of the king and his nobles:
Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.”
When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.
Devotion: The sermon series that we are working through is called “Second Chances.” And today’s Scripture reading has a verse that gives us the specific reason why, “Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time” (Jonah 3:1). After the Lord told Jonah to go to Nineveh, and Jonah disobeyed and ran the other way, the Lord gave Him the same message a second time. A second time.
What a God. The fact that He gave explicit instructions that Jonah met with complete disregard, and yet still gave Him a second chance… that speaks greatly to the character of our God. He is the God of second chances. We can see it in the stories of Noah, Abraham, Sarah, and David, just to name a few. And the God who gave them a second chance is the God who gives them to us, too.
But this isn’t like the sentiment, “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.” No, His grace is always more. In fact, the term “second chance” is even a bit deceiving because there is no limit to the Lord’s forgiveness. Yes, we are called to repent and turn away from our sin, but we are sinners who fall short of the glory of God. The Apostle Paul put it this way, “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen” (1 Timothy 1:12-17).
Praise to the One who gives us more chances than we could ever deserve. To the King eternal, be honor and glory forever and ever.
Reflect:
- Think about a time when God gave you a second chance (or third or fourth). What was the result of that? What did you learn?