My, Devotion to Him #163
Our Lord has demonstrated in the Bible on numerous occasions that He is a God of second chances. From Abraham and Sarah to John Newton, God has granted people second chances. Below are some examples of God’s love and ability to grant people a second chance to follow His direction.
1 Abraham & Sarah.
In chapter Genesis 12 we have the story of Abraham and Sarah. Sarah told Abraham to take her hand maid to bare him a son since she did not conceive a son in what she considered an acceptable time frame. Yet God fulfilled His promise to Abraham and Sarah and gave them a son regardless of their earlier disobedience.
There are times when we do something wrong and we think God will just write us off. God will just leave us and find someone else. But we need to realize that God will not leave us. If we continue onward and are faithful to Him. He will give us a second chance.
We also need to get over ourself period! We need to absolutely stop with wanting to do stuff on our time frame. We think that we know best but we don’t! We only see a piece of the picture. Where God is the only One who actually sees the whole picture. He knows when it’s right to do things and when it’s not. We need to rely on Him and trust Him.
He knows what He is doing. The reason we don’t work on His timeframe is we are inpatient people and think that “we” know better than God, but He knows all things! Let Him be the One to decide when something is right and when it’s not. We will save so much heartache, mistakes, and even regret.
2. Jonah.
In Jonah 1 God wanted Jonah to preach to the people in Ninevah but Jonah was scared and he fled on a ship to Tarshish. The Lord brought a great wind and a rough sea so the sailors threw Jonah overboard. God provided a whale to swallow Jonah. Jonah provides us with a great view of what it looked and felt like in there.
Verse Passage: Jonah 2:2 “He said: “In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry.” – NIV
Jonah said that he was deep. He was far away from the surface. He was not able to see land, light, or anything. He was in the deep. Jonah goes on to say he was deep in the realm of the dead. He was alone, it was dark, and probably rank. But instead of giving up and accepting his fate for disobeying he cried out to God and the Lord heard him.
God brought him up from the pit in Jonah 2:6. The whale coughed him up on shore so that he could complete God’s appointed task. Jonah knew why he had been swallowed up. But even then he states in Jonah 2:4 that he would still look to God’s holy temple.
Jonah goes on to do God task that he had first appointed him to do in the first place. When God tells us to do something we need to just do it. We don’t need to run away. God has plans and a purpose for us to fulfill. Trust God and His work!
3. Apostle Paul.
In Acts 6:8-8:1 we find that the Apostle Paul when he was Saul of Tarsus actually participated in the stoning to death of Stephen. Yet on the road to Damascus Saul was converted to Paul the apostle to the Gentiles. Paul is credited with writing 16 books of the New Testament.
Even the people who have done some terrible things can actually go on to advance the kingdom of God in great lengths. Some think that they have done to many bad things and that God will never forgive them. But God will! If they are sincere, come to Him, ask for His forgiveness, and turn from their wicked ways. He is just and able to forgive them.
4. Peter.
In Luke 22:54-62 Peter denied he was a follower of Christ on 3 separate occasions. Yet Jesus told Peter in Mathew 16:18 “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” – NIV
So even though Christ knew Peter would deny Him 3 times He still built His church upon the truth that Peter knew. And Peter went on to be one of His greatest disciples.
5. John Newton.
Before John Newton’s acceptance of Christ, John was the captain of a slave ship. After John’s conversion he became a minister and used the musical talent God gave him to write over 270 hymns including his famous “Amazing Grace”. Overall it was a spectacular transformation! From slave ship captain to a servant of the Lord and author of the greatest hymn of all time.
So how about you? Have you accepted Him as your Lord and Savior? Have you made Him the cornerstone of your life? In order for Him to effectively use you as His servant?
God bless!
Copyright © 2018 by Jacob D. Olinger
Spirit Warrior Ministry 