"Second Chances"

Jonah 1:15-16

¹⁵ Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. ¹⁶ At this the men greatly feared the LORD, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows to him. 

Our obedience to the Lord may cause others to worship the LORD.

The Lord is so gracious.  Though Jonah ran away from God's call in him to preach to the city of Nineveh, God still gave him a second chance and provided a way to get back to his calling.

The Lord is so powerful.
The Lord "runs after" those whom He called.

The Lord has chosen Jonah to preach and even if he disobeyed by running away from the Lord, the Lord did not stop in calling him back - even if it caused a huge commotion (storms, big fish, etc.)  God will speak to us no matter what and however he wants to because He wants us to obey him and do what is good for us and what pleases him.

// What kind of obedience is God calling me to do right now?  At the surface of things, to speak His Gospel, to forgive those who've wronged and hurt me, to live for Him always, to be faithful to Him regardless of all the hard situations and trials in life... to use the "little oil in my flask" [E'lan], and to just be completely obedient in my walk with Him daily - sensitive to Him and His whisper.  I will be diligent and obedience to whatever God calls me to do because He will empower me to do it when it seems like I can't.

// Lord, you are gracious... thank you for the "second chances" - for saving me from my sins first of all, for giving me another chance to do things right from the start, to use the little oil in my flask again and be better at it - more motivated to do it, and to start things over.  You are great and I will be obedient to You for your glory and pleasure! In Jesus' name, amen.