约拿书［第三章］
Book of Jonah 3
文章下载 ｜ Article Download
约拿书 第三章 |Book of Jonah 3【抓住机会】
02/03/2023
一、抓住回应神的机会（V1-4）
1.神给第二次机会（V1-3a）
守约施慈爱的神，祂的选召是没有后悔的。虽然当时也有其他的先知，可是神依然给约拿第二次机会，并使用他来完成对尼尼微救赎的计划。不管我们之前是否因为主观负面的思想、惧怕、还是其他原因，没有回应神的呼召；或做错决定得罪神。透过今天晨祷的提醒，我们是否愿意回应神伸出手来，抓住这神给的第二次机会？
2.神用不完美器皿（V3b-4）
约拿的生命有许多软弱、悖逆、不顺服、没有爱。但神还是乐意使用他这不完美器皿。神对我们的心意也是如此。神不但要透过不完美的器皿，让人见到是神的作为，祂更在乎的是我们的Being。在我们去成就祂的工作的同时，塑造改变我们，让我们活出祂创造我们这个人的Being，成为合神心意的人。
二、生命对齐神的机会（V5-8）
1.认真悔改的态度
在约拿时代的亚述帝国，在中东是以强暴闻名。但是当约拿宣告神的审判将临到，尼尼微必倾覆时，全城从上到下，抓住了悔改的机会，并且态度是谦卑、认真和彻底的。今天是教会但以理禁食和认罪悔改、生命对其神的第12天，我们是否已经抓住了神给的机会，以积极和认真的心态来回应祂？
2.领袖要带头悔改
当尼尼微王听见神要审判后，他以身作则成为全民的榜样，才发动悔改行动，结果带来了全国的翻转。今天作为领头羊的，当所带领的人犯错时，神喜悦做领袖的带头先悔改。
三、得施恩怜悯的机会（V9-10）
1.渴慕期待的心（V9）
尼尼微王虽知道神没有赦罪的义务，他还是渴慕并期待，当尼尼微人重新以仁爱待人，弃绝过去的恶行时，神能转意对他们施恩怜悯，使他们不致灭亡。渴慕期待看到神作为的心很重要，因为这是开启神迹的钥匙。
2.有得救的行为
除了有行动的真实悔改，可以改变应有的结局。弟兄姐妹，我们都知道没有一次得救，永远得救的道理。神儿女不要只是口里称耶稣是主，更要活出与得救相称的行为，叫我们的生命能散发出基督的香气来荣耀神。
3.爱惜生命的神
约拿心目中的神是只能爱护以色列的神，不能爱异邦，更不能爱以色列的仇敌。我们很常以为犯罪的人必须要受到神的惩罚才算是公义，以致我们把别人悔改的机会都堵死了。尼尼微人的经历再次让我们更全面认识祂是充满恩典、喜悦人回头离开所行的恶道而存活的神，是爱惜生命的神。
总结：
神爱世人，更是无时无刻乐意赐给人得救、悔改、生命对齐祂、事奉祂，各种不同的机会。在成圣的十架道路上，不管今天我们走到哪一站，让我们都以正确的态度回应神，抓住祂给的每一个机会，叫自己不失去神的祝福，也继续去抓住使许多人得神祝福的机会。
Jonah 3: Seize the Opportunity
GK611 Morning Devotion
02/03/2023
Speaker: Ps Deborah + Rev David Tan
Introduction: Cook another pot of rice
1. Seize the opportunity to respond to God （V1-4)
(1) God gives second chance （V1-3a)
A covenant-keeping and loving God, His calling has no regrets. Although there were other prophets at the time, God still gave Jonah a second chance and used him to complete the redemption plan for Nineveh. No matter whether we did not respond to God’s call because of individual negative thoughts, fear, or other reasons; or made wrong decisions to offend God. Through the reminder of today's Morning Devotion, are we willing to respond to God and reaching out to grab this second chance God has given?
(2) God uses imperfect vessels （V3b-4)
Jonah's life was full of weakness, rebellion, disobedience, and without love. But God is still willing to use His imperfect vessel. The same is true of God's will for us. God not only wants people to see God’s deeds through imperfect vessels, but He cares more about our Being. While we accomplish His work, He moulds and changes us, let us live out the being He created us, and become a person after God's heart.
2. Opportunity to align life with God （V5-8)
(1) An Attitude of Serious Repentance
The Assyrian Empire in the time of Jonah was famous for its violence in the Middle East. But when Jonah announced that God's judgment would come and Nineveh would be overthrown, the whole city, from top to bottom, seized the opportunity to repent, and their attitude was humble, serious and thorough. Today is the 12th day of church Daniel’s fasting, confession, repentance, and aligning life with God. Have we seized the opportunity God gave us to respond to Him with a positive and serious attitude?
(2) Leaders take the lead in repentance
When the king of Nineveh heard that God was going to judge, he set an example for the whole nation, and then he launched an action of repentance, which brought about a nationwide revival. Today, as a leader, when those who lead make mistakes, God is pleased with the leader who takes the lead to repent first.
3. Opportunity to receive grace and mercy （V9-10)
(1) A heart of longing and anticipation （V9)
Although the king of Nineveh knew that God had no obligation to forgive sins, he still longed for and expected that when the people of Nineveh treated others with kindness and forsake their past evil deeds, God would turn His mind to show mercy to them so that they would not perish from sin. It is very important to desire and believe to see God's actions, because this is the key to unlocking miracles.
(2) Have actions of salvation
In addition to real repentance with action which is possible to change the outcome it should be. Brothers and sisters, we all know the truth that it isn’t you are once saved, you will always be saved. Children of God should not just confess Jesus as Lord with their mouths, but also live out the behaviours that are commensurate with salvation, so that our lives can exude the fragrance of Christ to glorify God.
(3) God who loves life
The God in Jonah’s mind is a God who can only love Israel, and cannot love other nations, let alone Israel’s enemies. We often think that those who sin must be punished by God to be considered righteous, hence, we block the opportunity for others to repent. The experience of the Nineveh people once again allows us to understand fully that He is a God full of grace, a God who delights people to turn away from their evil ways and survive, and a God who loves life.
Conclusion：
God loves the world, and He is willing to give people all kinds of opportunities to be saved, repent, align their lives with Him, and serve Him all the time. On the road of sanctification, no matter which stages we are at today, let us respond to God with a correct attitude, seize every opportunity He gives, so that we will not lose God’s blessings, and continue to seize opportunities for many to be blessed by God.