Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - “A Second Chance” – Friday, 13 June 2014 - Scripture: Jonah 3:1-10

Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - “A Second Chance” – Friday, 13 June 2014 - Scripture: Jonah 3:1 Yahweh’s word came to Jonah the second time, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I give you.”
3 So Jonah arose, and went to Nineveh, according to Yahweh’s word. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days’ journey across. 4 Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried out, and said, “In forty days, Nineveh will be overthrown!”
5 The people of Nineveh believed God; and they proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from their greatest even to their least. 6 The news reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and took off his royal robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. 7 He made a proclamation and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, “Let neither man nor animal, herd nor flock, taste anything; let them not feed, nor drink water; 8 but let them be covered with sackcloth, both man and animal, and let them cry mightily to God. Yes, let them turn everyone from his evil way, and from the violence that is in his hands. 9 Who knows whether God will not turn and relent, and turn away from his fierce anger, so that we might not perish?”
10 God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way. God relented of the disaster which he said he would do to them, and he didn’t do it.
“A Second Chance” by Bill Manning
“The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time” (Jonah 3:1). How gracious of God to offer a second chance or a 22nd chance. Our merciful Father keeps on forgiving and restoring us as long as we ask His pardon. He not only calls us to try again, His Spirit in us gives the power to be faithful. God’s message to the world is that He comes to restore fallen people. 
Jonah’s second chance came with the same instructions as before: “Go to . . . Nineveh and [preach]” (3:2). When we accept God’s second chance, he helps us face the things that once defeated us. When Jonah preached God’s message of judgment to the Ninevites, they were overcome with remorse and called on God, repenting of their evil ways. As God witnessed the repentance of an entire city, He relented of the judgment He had threatened to send. 

This is good news for people who have failed, for individuals who are disappointed with themselves, for all who need to repent. It is also good news for those who need to be reminded how far God has brought them. 
Hymn for Today:
“Our Great Savior” by J. Wilbur Chapman
1. Jesus! what a friend for sinners!
Jesus! lover of my soul;
Friends may fail me, foes assail me,
He, my Savior, makes me whole
Refrain:
Hallelujah! what a Savior!
Hallelujah! what a friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end.
2. Jesus! wwhat a strength in weakness!
Let me hide myself in Him;
Tempted, tried, and sometimes failing,
He, my strength, my vict'ry wins.
Refrain:
Hallelujah! what a Savior!
Hallelujah! what a friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end.
3. Jesus! what a help in sorrow!
While the billows o'er me roll,
Even when my heart is breaking,
He, my comfort, helps my soul.
Refrain:
Hallelujah! what a Savior!
Hallelujah! what a friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end.
4. Jesus! what a guide and keeper!
While the tempest still is high,
Storms about me, night o'ertakes me,
He, my pilot, hears my cry.
Refrain:
Hallelujah! what a Savior!
Hallelujah! what a friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end.
5. Jesus! I do now receive Him,
More than all in Him I find,
He hath granted me forgiveness,
I am His, and He is mine.
Refrain:
Hallelujah! what a Savior!
Hallelujah! what a friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end.
Thought for Today:
“Like Jonah, we tend to resist God’s call and run from His purposes. But the Lord won’t give up on any of us” (Scott Daniels)
Prayer Needs:
Developing Christian leaders in Cote d’Ivoire!
WordAction Publishing Company
Beacon Hill Press
Nazarene Publishing Company
2500 Troost Avenue
Kansas City, MO 64108 United States
Embrace holy living…visit reflectinggod.com.
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