John Maxwell Profiles in Leadership: Jonah – Second Chances

This is the sixth lesson in bestselling author and speaker John Maxwell’s Leadership by the Bible series. If you know someone or a group who would like to follow along on this journey through Scripture, tell them to sign up to receive John’s free email devotional here.

By John C. Maxwell

Jonah 3:1-3

“Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time.” After all Jonah had done (and failed to do), God still offered him a second chance to be a leader of great influence. What does a “second time” mean?

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The first time is lost. What might Jonah’s life have been like if he’d obeyed the first time? We will never know. You will never know what impact you will forfeit or the consequences that will come from your disobedience.
You need grace. Jonah is the prodigal son of the Old Testament. Both men received mercy and grace instead of justice. Be thankful for the grace God gives you if you receive a second chance.
God has a purpose for your life. God’s purposes are stronger than our failures. He didn’t allow Jonah’s initial failure
to be the end of the story.
You have an opportunity to make a better choice. Jonah obeyed God the second time. Saying “Yes, Lord” can change your life and leadership. While it’s always better to make the right choice the first time, God is gracious. As he did with Jonah, he may offer another opportunity to make the right choice. When you get a second chance, make it count!
You can be different. Because Jonah took God’s second chance, 120,000 people heard God’s message, repented, and were saved. You have no idea how many people you can help if you seek God’s forgiveness, obey his calling, and take the second chance he offers you to lead with excellence.

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The above is adapted from The Maxwell Leadership Bible / Third Edition by John C. Maxwell (@JohnCMaxwell). Copyright © 2002, 2007, 2018 by Maxwell Motivation, Inc. Used by permission of Thomas Nelson. www.thomasnelson.com.

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