Second chances

Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying, - Jonah 3v1

I like the fact that our God is the God of second chances. Jonah ran from God. When a storm came and the sailors were seeking blame Jonah acknowledged that it was his fault. Jonah was swallowed by a whale and asked God to deliver him, God led the whale to land where it spit Jonah out. Jonah hardly seems qualified to go on and serve God.  God would have been justified to say ‘Forget it Jonah, if you don’t want to serve me I’ll just get someone else.  

But God didn’t do that, ‘the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time.’

Here we see a clear example of how God can use even flawed people to do his work. God simply renewed his call on Jonah to do the work he was supposed to do.

I am not, of course, saying that we can expect God to use us if we do not turn away from our sin. God expects us to acknowledge our sin and call on Him. But when we do that we  are ready for service again.

Praise God He doesn’t give up on us when we blow it. If He did I doubt any of us would be fit for service.