--SECOND CHANCES? / THIRD? / MORE?

--God used (and uses) people to change the world.
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People! Not saints or superhumans or geniuses, but people. Crooks, creeps, lovers, and liars--He uses them all. And what they may lack in perfection, God makes up for in love....

They aren't exactly what you'd call a list of "Who's Who in Purity and Sainthood." In fact, some of their antics and attitudes would make you think of the Saturday night crowd of the county jail. We must remember God's tolerance, forgiveness, and restoration to Himself, is of utmost importance. We must repent, and He accepts and uses us, ALL OF US, for His glory.

Think about these people, for example. What can you say about a fellow whose lust got so lusty that he got a woman pregnant, tried to blame it on her husband, had her husband killed, and then went on living like nothing ever happened? Well, you could say 'he was a man after God's own heart'. David's track record left little to be desired, but his repentant spirit was unquestionable.

Then comes Jonah. God's ambassador to Nineveh. Jonah, however, had other ideas. He had no desire to go to that heathen city. So he hopped on another boat while, (he thought), God wasn't looking. God put him in a whale's belly to bring him back to his senses. But even the whale couldn't stomach this missionary for too long. A good burp and Jonah went flying over the surf and landed big-eyed and repentant on the beach.

And on and on the stories go: Elijah, the prophet who pouted; Solomon, the king who knew too much; Jacob, the wheeler-dealer, Gomer, the prostitute; Sarah, the woman who giggled at God. One story after another of God using man's best and overcoming man's worst.

Even the genealogy of Jesus is salted with a dubious character or two--
Tamar, the adulteress,
Rahab the harlot, and
Bathsheba. .....

The reassuring lesson is clear. YES, God used (and uses!) people to change the world. He can even use you, if you'll let Him.

--'No Wonder They Call Him the Savior'/ Max Lucado
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