READ: Jonah, Chapter 3
Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”
Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it. Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.
When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh:
“By the decree of the king and his nobles:
Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.”
When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.
DEVOTIONAL:
Have you ever needed a redo–or a second chance? After being vomited ashore, Jonah marches to Nineveh to proclaim the message he was originally sent to preach. Jonah got his redo. Jonah’s sermon wasn’t cleverly packaged or eloquently delivered—it was a straightforward call to repent. But God was right—Jonah was the right person for the job because his message resulted in an entire city repenting.
It’s a good thing Jonah didn’t let his feelings or his failures have the final say on his future. Because of his obedience, He—and a whole city—experienced the God of second chances. Don't let your feelings and your failures have the final say on your future. Let Jesus have the final say because Jesus says you are called and anointed. Just like He commissioned Jonah, God is commissioning you. He is calling you to become who He’s created to be and to walk in the abundant life He has for you. Give Jesus the final word.
PRAYER:
Jesus, I give you the final say for my future. Help me not to define my life by my feelings or failures. Thank you that you have a great plan for my life. Help me to share your goodness with others. Amen.