Aug
30
Another Chance
Filed Under Devotional
What will you do with your second chance? How will you react? What will your state of mind be?
A guest speaker made great use of these questions this weekend and I appreciated his clear approach to answering them. God is a god of second chances. He continues to give them every time we ask for them. Our growth can be measured by what we do with them and what attitude we take. Scripture offers up some great history for us to compare and contrast. Jonah is famous for disobeying God’s call and ending up feeling like bait. When he asked to for a second chance, he got one:
“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.[...]” Jonah 3:1-3a
Jonah took advantage of his second chance and obeyed God, but what was his attitude when the Ninevites had the temerity to listen to him and repent?
“But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry.” Jonah 4:1
Jonah may have obeyed, but he was still angry with God’s plan. His attitude was still self-focused.
Now, Paul was also given a second chance when Jesus appeared to him on the road to Damascus. We know that Paul grabbed on to his second chance with both hands became a leader of the early church. But, what was his attitude?
“Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.” Philippians 2:17
“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” Philippians 4:4
No matter the plan God had, Paul wanted to rejoice in God and in what Jesus had done for him. His attitude was Jesus-focused.
So, your lesson for the day is to ask and take advantage of a second chance. And, do it with the right attitude.