QT 16/11/2025 Sun. Jonah 3 “The God Who Gives Second Chances” “赐予第二次机会的神”
QT 16/11/2025 Sun. Jonah 3 “The God Who Gives Second Chances”
READ http://www.esv.org/jonah3
God gave second chances to both His prophet Jonah as well as others usually thought to be outside of the religion. Are your hearts and minds wide enough for these?
📖 Scripture: “Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, ‘Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.’” — Jonah 3:1–2 (ESV)
Reflection
Jonah 3 opens with a miracle far greater than the one in the belly of the fish — God speaks to Jonah again. After running from God, disobeying His command, and facing judgment, Jonah is restored and recommissioned. The story of Jonah 3 isn’t just about Nineveh’s repentance; it’s about God’s relentless mercy toward both the rebellious prophet and a wicked city.
When God says, “The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time,” He reveals a truth every believer needs to hear: failure does not disqualify you from God’s calling. The same God who pursued Jonah in the storm still pursues His servants today — not to condemn them, but to redeem and reassign them.
Jonah obeys this time, and the result is astonishing: “The people of Nineveh believed God.” (Jonah 3:5). From the king to the commoner, they fasted, repented, and turned from their evil ways. It wasn’t Jonah’s eloquence that changed the city — it was the power of God’s Word and the humble response of broken hearts.
In verse 10 we read: “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.”
This is the heartbeat of the gospel — when repentance meets mercy, revival begins.
Takeaway Truths
(1) God’s mercy extends beyond our failures.
He is not finished with you because you’ve stumbled. His Word can come to you “a second time.”
(2) Obedience opens the door for God’s power.
Jonah’s obedience released God’s message; your obedience can release His purpose in your family, city, and calling.
(3) Repentance brings restoration.
Nineveh’s story reminds us that no one — no person, no city, no nation — is beyond the reach of God’s grace.
Personal Application
Where have you resisted God’s call?
Is there a “Nineveh” — a place or person you’ve avoided — that God is asking you to reach? Remember, your greatest ministry may come after your greatest failure. God specialises in second chances.
Pray today:
“Lord, thank You for Your mercy. Give me a heart that obeys quickly and believes deeply. Use me, even after my failures, to bring Your message of grace to those who need it most. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
QT 16/11/2025 星期日. 约拿书 3 “赐予第二次机会的神”
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/jon/3/
神不仅赐予先知约拿第二次机会，也赐予那些通常被视为宗教之外的人。你们的心胸是否足够宽广，能接纳这些恩典？
📖 经文： 1 耶和华的话再次临到约拿，说：2 “起来！到尼尼微大城去，向其中的居民宣告我所吩咐你的话。””——约拿书 3:1-2
默想
约拿书第三章以远超鱼腹奇蹟的事件开篇——神再度向约拿发声。在逃避神、违抗命令并经历审判后，约拿得以恢复并重新受命。这章故事不仅关乎尼尼微城的悔改，更彰显神对悖逆先知与罪恶之城永不止息的怜悯。
当神说“耶和华的话第二次临到约拿”时，祂向每位信徒揭示了至关重要的真理：失败不会使你失去神的呼召。那位曾在风暴中追寻约拿的神，今日仍在追寻祂的仆人——不是为了定他们的罪，而是要救赎并重新差遣他们。
约拿这次顺服了，结果令人惊叹：“尼尼微人信服神。” （约拿书3:5）从王室到百姓，他们禁食悔改，弃绝恶行。改变这座城的并非约拿的雄辩，而是神话语的大能与破碎心灵的谦卑回应。
在第10节中我们读到：“神看见他们所行的，和他们离开恶道的行为，就后悔，不把所说的灾祸降与他们了。” 这正是福音的核心——当悔改遇见怜悯，复兴便开始了。
核心真理
(1) 神的怜悯超越我们的失败。
你跌倒了，祂并未弃绝你。祂的话语仍会“第二次”临到你。
(2) 顺服开启神大能的通道。
约拿的顺服传递了神的信息；你的顺服能成就祂在你家庭、城邑与呼召中的旨意。
(3) 悔改带来复兴。
尼尼微的故事提醒我们：无人——无论个人、城邑或国度——能逃脱上帝恩典的触及。
个人应用
你曾在何处抗拒上帝的呼召？
是否存在某个“尼尼微”——你刻意回避之地或之人——正是上帝要你触及的对象？谨记：你最伟大的事工或许诞生于最深的失败之后。上帝专精于赐予第二次机会。
今日祷告：
“主啊，感谢祢的怜悯。求赐我敏捷顺服、深信不疑的心。即便我曾跌倒，仍求祢使用我，将恩典的信息带给最需要的人。奉耶稣的名求。阿们。”
