Scripture

Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, ‘Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you.’
(Jonah 3:1-2)

Devotional

How many times must God speak to you and what does it take for Him to get your attention? Have you, like Jonah, been directed to go in one direction, but ended up going in another? Jonah tells us alot about the character of those who are attempting to get away from God’s will for their lives. There will first be planned rebellion followed by an appearance of apathy: Jonah was fast asleep in the bottom of the ship. Then there will be a mixture of self-pity and cowardice: Jonah said the storm was his fault, but was not willing to get off of the ship himself. He had others throw him into the deep.
God miraculously delivered Jonah from the belly of a fish and he still murmured and complained. Nevertheless, God used Jonah in spite of Jonah. How about you? What is it going to take for God to get you to do His will?

Text For The Day

Jonah 3:1, 2: Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you.”

Thought For The Day

“Its been said that the average attention span is about seven minutes. That might be a good amount of time to attempt to pray.” Tony Foglio, Founding Pastor of Sonrise Community Church

Questions To Ponder

Does God desire the attention of His creation?
If so, how does He get it? If not, why not?
Does God presently have Your undivided attention?

Morning Study Guide

Defining: “Attentive”: Giving an ear, eye contact, listening, hearing, heeding, with regard to God, submitting to His inclinations.

Referencing: “And the word of the Lord came to me the second time, saying,” Jeremiah 13:3.

Applying: We serve the God of a second chance and sometimes a third, but I have not found where the Word of the Lord came a fourth time. Why not listen the first time?