Session 10

It’s never too late to make a change

From 2 Chronicles: A 28-Day Devotional

Have you ever made the same mistake over and over again? Maybe it was a relationship you couldn't seem to let go of. Or one financial disaster piled on top of another. No matter how hard you worked, it didn't seem to matter. You were branded a failure, and adding another one just seemed par for the course.

Manasseh was like that, except worse. He excelled at being evil. He desecrated the Lord's temple. He burned his own children alive to worship other gods. He practiced witchcraft and consulted mediums and spiritists. Manasseh led Judah and Jerusalem so far astray, they committed more sin than anyone before them.

After years of willful disobedience to God, something finally got Manasseh's attention. The Lord sent the Assyrian army against Manasseh and his people. They put a hook in Manasseh's nose, marched him to Babylon, and threw him in prison. There, in his distress, he finally repented and sought God's favor. And what did God do? He forgave Manasseh. Against all odds, and some might say against all reason, God forgave the worst sinner in Judah's history.

Manasseh’s story is our story. Whether or not you've turned away from your mistakes yet, God has and will continue to pursue you. Through Jesus Christ, He offers total forgiveness and restoration. You just have to stop running and turn to Him. Ask for His help. He will answer you.

Reflect:

• How has the Lord been trying to get your attention?
• What will you do about it?