Anglican Daily Fountain 10 October 2023 (Devotional Today)

TOPIC: GOD OF SECOND A CHANCE

TEXT: Jonah 2:1-10(KJV)
2:1. Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish’s belly,
2:2. And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.
2:3. For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.
2:4. Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.
2:5. The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head.

2:6. I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God.
2:7. When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.
2:8. They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.
2:9. But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.
2:10. And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.

Anglican Daily Fountain 10th October 2023 STUDY:

Oh how merciful and gracious our God is! Of a truth, He is slow to anger and plenteous in mercy. Although men see Him as too slow in executing judgment upon evil doers, He has no interest in the death of a sinner but that all men through His son, Jesus Christ, will cross from death to life eternal. Jonah the prophet received an assignment from the Lord to go proclaim God’s judgment on a nation.

He turned down the assignment and fled but God caught up with him through a storm that attacked the ship and caused the sailors to throw him overboard into the sea. This should have meant the end of Jonah but God never gave up on Him; He did the miraculous to give the prophet a second chance to fulfil His will. God could have rescued Jonah through different means but He chose the method that would affect the heart of Jonah the most.

Although God hates disobedience and rebellion, yet He is the God of a second chance. The event that would have ended the life of Jonah was used by God to drive the prophet to a point of another opportunity to get the work done. Is there any assignment given to you by God which you are reluctant to do? Have you failed God many times and think you stand no chance of making amends anymore? The God of a second chance is preserving of your life despite your failures, unfaithfulness and unfruitfulness. Jonah prayed and God answered! Arise from where you are and do not allow this second chance to slip off your hands.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, help me not to act in ways that reject you in my life, Amen.