Second Chances

“The Word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time.”
Jonah 3:1

In Hebrews 11 we have the “Hall of Faith” the list of men and women that God used to fulfill His plans and purposes. They are written there not because they were great people but because they had faith in a great God.

Abraham, the father of faith, lied twice about Sarah being his wife because he lacked faith. Their son Isaac did the same thing. Sarah laughed at God’s promise of a child and then denied she laughed. Isaac’s son Jacob lied and connived.

Noah got drunk. Samson was a very immoral man. Gideon was afraid. Rahab was a prostitute. David was an adulterer and a murderer. Elijah was suicidal at one point. Jonah ran from God. The disciples fell asleep while they were praying. The Samaritan woman was divorced more than once.

These people messed up, but God gave them second chances. Maybe you need a second chance. Maybe you’ve had a lapse of faith. We all fail in life. We all have lapses. Simon Peter openly denied the Lord, but God gave him a second chance. What about Jonah? He ran from God, but God got his attention in the stomach of a great fish. Jonah came to his senses and was given a second chance. God gives second chances.

Thought For Today: Have you failed the Lord? Maybe you feel like your story is over because of mistakes you’ve made or a sin you’ve committed. The Bible teaches us that your story isn’t over. God is a giver of second chances.

Today’s Prayer Focus: Thank God that there is nothing you have done, said, thought, or failed to do that that blood of Christ has not forgiven you for. Deo Volente.