Getting Back on Track

Remember the story of Jonah? God told him to go preach in Nineveh. Jonah refused and ran in the other direction. He got thrown out of a boat and swallowed by a big fish who later spit him out on the beach. What did God say next? "That's it for you, Jonah. You can just stay on the beach and feel guilty from now on." Not even close. Instead, the Bible says... Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time (Jonah 3:1).
     God didn't take Jonah out of service. He sent him back to Nineveh, saying, in effect, "Now go back to doing what I called you to do." If you've lost some major battles in life, you may be tempted to think that God is finished with you. It's not true. The problem is not that God gives up on his people. The problem is that his people give up on themselves.
     Many believers, after getting knocked down by sin, decide to never get up. "What's the use? Why bother? I'll just stay down here from now on." You won't be let off quite that easy. God calls you to repentance.  He calls you to confront your sin and deal with it His way. And after you have gotten back on your feet, God reminds you His Word remains the same. Trust God and obey Him even when you can’t trace His steps, you can always trust His heart.

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Clark Tatum