Devotional Archives
A Second Chance
Since the beginning of time our God has offered another chance to those who have failed. Many who thought they had flunked out of life for good reentered and graduated with honors. History tells of those who learned from their failures and became successful. Jonah was one. After he learned the lessons of failure, God gave him another chance.
The far side of the sea–that’s where Jonah had headed to escape God’s command. Yet, after God commanded the fish to deposit Jonah on land, “the word of Lord came to Jonah a second time” (Jonah 3:1). A second time Jonah–and to Moses, and to Samson, and to David, and to Peter, and to John Mark. And, using our sin, our failure, as a great teacher, the word of the Lord also comes to us a second time, offering another chance.
We have a God of the second. He recycles our failures, using them for his purposes. And our failure can be the best preparation for our conformity to the image of Christ if we submit to its lessons while we wait for another chance.
Elisa Morgan
Memory Verse Week of 1/13:
“In my distress I called to the Lord, and He answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help, and you listened to my cry.” Jonah 2:2
Reflect on this:
Do you need a second chance? Do you feel like you’ve disappointed God, and now you’re doomed to suffer the consequences of your mistakes? I know I’ve felt that way a lot in life, but thank goodness that’s not the kind of God we serve! He is mighty to save us, and even gracious enough give us another chance to do His will when we’ve disobeyed or ignored Him. Open your heart to the Lord in faith, tell Him you are willing, and ask Him to let you start fresh. He will be faithful.
Shaken Up
We need to be “shaken” off from every other foundation in order that we may be forced to rest on the foundation of God alone. This explains the necessity for those “shakings” through which so many Christians are called to pass. The Lords sees that we are building our spiritual houses on flimsy foundations, which will not be able to withstand the storms of life; and not in anger but in tenderest love, he shakes our earth and our heaven until all that can be shaken is removed,… in order that only that which “cannot be shaken” may remain.
–Hannah Whitall Smith excerpt from God Always Has a Plan B
Memory verse for the week of 1/5- 1/12
“For the word of God is full of living power. It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting into our innermost thoughts and desires. It exposes us for what we really are.” Hebrews 4:12
Reflect on this: God is so majestic we could never understand Him or His mysterious ways. We would be constantly stuck wondering why at every bad break in life. He gives us His Word to help us understand His character, His good intentions for us, and His unfathomable love. Without His Word, we are in great danger of crumbling under the pressures of life. Challenge yourself to begin investing more of your time into knowing Him by reading the Bible–He will reward your efforts by revealing Himself to you and comforting you with His love, strength, and mercy.