給第二次機會的神
Let me tell you a secret... I, Nathan Arthur Daniel Palmer, support the Wallabies. The Australian Rugby Team... In fact, I support Australia in most sports. And yes, I was born in New Zealand. And yes, I’ve always lived in New Zealand. But I’m one of the very few, the minority, the brave, that will don the green and gold and make my way to Eden Park amongst a sea of black. And in the history of challenges between the All Blacks and the Wallabies, there are a select few happy memories, amongst many, many, not so happy.
我告诉你们⼀个秘密…我，Nathan Arthur Daniel Palmer，⽀持袋⿏队，也就是澳⼤利亚国家橄榄球队…事实上，我在⼤多数运动项⽬上都⽀持澳⼤利亚。是的，我出⽣在新⻄兰。是的，我也住在新⻄兰。但我是极少数的，少数的，勇敢的⼈，会穿上绿⾊和⾦⾊的⾐服在⿊⾊的海洋中⾛向Eden park体育馆。在“全⿊队”和“⼩袋⿏队”的历史较量中，有⼀些美好的回忆，但也有很多不那么美好的回忆。
But I do remember one moment...
但我记得有⼀次…
The 31st October, 2010. Hong Kong. All Blacks vs. Wallabies.
在2010年10⽉31⽇。在⾹港。全⿊队对袋⿏队。
The All Blacks, at the time the top-ranked team in the world, had seemingly been in control for most of the game, right until four minutes remained on the clock. The All Blacks 5 points ahead, leading Australia 24-19, won a penalty, and replacement first-five Steven “Beaver” Donald stepped up to kick it into touch. All he had to do was kick the ball into touch– kick it out. But instead of kicking the ball out, it remained in play, and the Wallabies, rejuvenated by his miss, hammered the try line until finally James O’Connor dove over to score in the corner. Stephen Donald’s miss, led to the first Wallabies win against New Zealand since July 2008, 11 games in the making.
当时世界排名第⼀的紐西蘭國家All Black队似乎控制了⽐赛的⼤部分时间，直到⽐赛还剩4分钟。全⿊队领先5分，以24-19领先澳⼤利亚队，赢得了⼀次点球，替补前卫“海狸”斯蒂芬·唐纳德(Steven“Beaver”Donald)上前要将球踢触地。他所要做的就是把球踢到触地——把球踢出去。但球并没有被踢出去，⽽是还在界内，⼩袋⿏队因他的失误⽽恢复了活⼒，将球打⼊了得分线，直到詹姆斯·奥康纳(James O’connor)扑向球⻔⻆落进球。斯蒂芬·唐纳德的失球，让⼩袋⿏队⾃2008年7⽉以来⾸次战胜新⻄兰，期间打了11场⽐赛。
Years later, Stephen Donald opened up on the abuse he received for missing that crucial penalty. Both him and his family were the targets of vile hate mail, the subject of talkback radio, and described as worthless and the worst All Black of all time. In fact he said this...
多年后，斯蒂芬·唐纳德(Stephen Donald)敞开⼼扉，讲述了他因为错过了那个关键的点球⽽受到的辱骂。他和他的家⼈都是恶意仇恨邮件的⽬标，谈话电台的主题，并被描述为毫⽆价值和有史以来最糟糕的全⿊。事实上，他说过……
“It was getting to the point where, did I actually want to have to wear a hoodie and a hat every time I went to the supermarket or if I went for a beer somewhere, did I want to be tucked away further in the corner and try and avoid anyone...”
“当时我的状况到了这样的地步，我每次去超市不知⾃⼰是否真的想要穿连帽衫或戴顶帽⼦或者我去喝啤酒的地⽅,我想要藏在⻆落⾥,尽量避免碰⻅任何⼈……”
A year later, the Rugby World Cup 2011 was hosted here in New Zealand. Stephen Donald wasn’t even selected for the 30-strong squad for the World Cup, in fact he was having some time off from rugby.
⼀年后，2011年橄榄球世界杯在新⻄兰举⾏。斯蒂芬·唐纳德(Stephen Donald)甚⾄都没有⼊选世界杯30强阵容，事实上，他当时正在远离橄榄球。
But following a series of injuries, and with New Zealand rugby scrambling to find anyone to wear the number 10 jersey, thinking he wouldn’t wear an All-Black’s jersey again, Stephen Donald found himself on the bench for the World Cup Final. 33-minutes into the game, firstfive Aaron Cruden injured his knee, and Stephen “Beaver” Donald stepped up.
但当斯蒂芬·唐纳德经历了⼀系列伤病之后,在新⻄兰橄榄球员争先恐后地寻找穿10号球⾐的⼈的时候,他以为他不会穿全⿊的球⾐了,斯蒂芬·唐纳德却出现在世界杯决赛替补⻓凳上。33分钟的时候他进⼊了⽐赛,前卫球员亚伦克鲁登膝盖受伤,“海狸”斯蒂芬·唐纳德加⼊了⽐赛。
Four minutes into the second half, and thus the so-called “worst All-Black of all time”, gets the unthinkable... a second chance. A second chance to kick a penalty. A second chance to win a game. And this time, on the biggest stage in world rugby, he kicks the penalty, adding a much needed three points to the scoreboard, effectively winning them the game, with the All Blacks going on to win the Rugby World Cup for the first time in 24 years.
下半场四分钟，被称为“史上最糟糕的全⿊队员”出现了，不可思议的……第⼆次机会。第⼆次点球机会。赢得⽐赛的第⼆次机会。这⼀次，在世界橄榄球最⼤的舞台上，他踢进了点球，在记分牌上⼜加了急需的三分，有效地为他们赢得了⽐赛，All Black队24年来第⼀次赢得了橄榄球世界杯。
Stephen Donald going from the most hated-man in rugby, to the most celebrated, got a second chance. But second chances are generally not how our world works.
斯蒂芬·唐纳德(Stephen Donald)从橄榄球界最讨厌的⼈，变成了最著名的⼈，他得到了第⼆次机会。但第⼆次机会通常不是我们这个世界的运作⽅式。
We don’t tend to give a failed salesperson the most important client.
我们不会把最重要的客户交给⼀个失败的销售⼈员。
We don’t cast an inexperienced aspiring actor, who suffers from extreme stage fright, as the lead role.
我们不会选⼀个缺乏经验的有志向但极度怯场的演员当主⻆。
We don’t roster a junior surgeon, who failed medical school three times, for the most complex procedure possible.
我们不会让⼀个在医学院三次都没考上的初级外科医⽣，来做最复杂的⼿术。
We generally don’t give the most important tasks, to the people who have blown it.
我们通常不会把最重要的任务交给搞砸了的⼈。
And in the story of Jonah, Jonah, had blown it! Yahweh had come to him and told him to go Nineveh to preach and instead of obeying, he had chosen to run the other way. He disobeyed. But God pursues his prophet, sending a great storm and waves to slow and disrupt Jonah’s running, being thrown overboard and swallowed by a great fish, only to be vomited by the fish onto the beach...
在约拿的故事⾥，约拿搞砸了!耶和华来到他⾯前，让他去尼尼微传道，但他没有顺服，反⽽选择了另⼀条路跑。他没有顺服上帝。但上帝追赶他的先知，发出巨⼤的⻛暴和海浪来减缓和扰乱约拿的跑步，他被扔到海⾥，被⼀条⼤⻥吞了下去，被⻥吐在了海滩上……
And what we see in Jonah 3, is God giving Jonah a second chance.
我们在约拿书3章中看到，上帝给了约拿第⼆次机会。
What we see in Jonah chapter three, is Yahweh coming to Jonah a second time...
我们在约拿书的第3章中看到，耶和华再次来到约拿⾯前…
Then the LORD spoke to Jonah a second time: 2 “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh, and deliver the message I have given you.” 3 This time Jonah obeyed the Lord’s command and went to Nineveh, a city so large that it took three days to see it all. (Jonah 3:1-3)
耶和华的话第⼆次临到约拿，说： “起来，到尼尼微⼤城去，把我告诉你的信息向其中的居⺠宣告。” 约拿就照耶和华的话起来，到尼尼微去。尼尼微是⼀座极⼤的城，约有三天的路程。 (约拿书3:1-3)
If we were unfamiliar with the whole story of Jonah, this could have been a surprise! He
obeyed?! When the Lord came to him in chapter 1, he fled, and we might have halfexpected him to do it once again. To get up and run the opposite way. But surprisingly, Jonah heard the word of Yahweh, obeyed, and walked into the city of his enemies. He didn’t run for the door. He didn’t flee or run for Joppa. Instead he took this second chance, obeyed, and went to Nineveh.
如果我们不熟悉约拿的整个故事，这可能会是⼀个惊喜!他顺服了? !当主在第⼀章中临到他的时候，他逃⾛了，我们也许会以为他会再来⼀次。站起来，朝相反的⽅向跑。但令⼈惊讶的是，约拿听到了耶和华的话，服从了，⾛进了他敌⼈的城市。他没有跑向⻔⼝。他没有逃跑，也没有跑去约帕。相反，他抓住第⼆次机会，服从命令，去了尼尼微。
Did you also notice something at the start of this chapter? The beginning of Jonah chapter 3 is essentially an echo of the opening of the story in chapter 1:
你有没有注意到这⼀章的开头?约拿书第3章的开头与第1章的开头是相呼应的
If we look at verses 1 and 2, in chapter one...
“The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” (Jonah 1:1-2)
耶和华的话临到亚⽶太的⼉⼦约拿，说： “起来，到尼尼微⼤城去，向其中的居⺠宣告，因为他们的恶已达到我⾯前。” (约拿书1:1-2)
And then compare it to verses 1 and 2 of chapter 3... “Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.” (Jonah 3:1-2).
然后与第三章的第⼀节和第⼆节⽐较… “耶和华的话第⼆次临到约拿，说： “起来，到尼尼微⼤城去，把我告诉你的信息向其中的居⺠宣告。”(约拿书3:1-2)。
Aside from the words “a second time” in the first verse of each chapter, and the words preach and proclaim which differ in the English translation, but are the same in the original text, we see a God who is not put off by Jonah’s disobedience or failure. And in this passage, we see our gracious God give Jonah a second chance.
除了每⼀章第⼀节中的“第⼆次”，以及英语翻译中不同但在原⽂中相同的“传道”和“宣告”，我们看到的上帝并没有因为约拿的不顺服或失败⽽退缩。在这段经⽂中，我们看到仁慈的神给了约拿第⼆次机会。
And once he got to Nineveh, Jonah began to preach. On the day Jonah entered the city, he shouted to the crowds: “Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed!”
到了尼尼微，约拿就开始传道。约拿进城，⾛了⼀天，宣告说：“再过四⼗天，尼尼微要倾覆了！” (约拿书3:4 )
Eight words was all he said... “Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed!”
A message of condemnation... “Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed!”
他只说了⼋个字……（“再过四⼗天，尼尼微要倾覆了！”）
谴责的信息……（“再过四⼗天，尼尼微要倾覆了！”）
“Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed!”
（“再过四⼗天，尼尼微要倾覆了！）
He didn’t give any reasons for the impending judgement, no explanation for what the people had done wrong, nor any explanation on how the people could escape or be delivered from their impending doom and destruction, nor a message of hope or grace, offering a second chance.
他没有对即将到来的审判给出任何理由，没有解释⼈⺠做了什么错事，也没有解释⼈⺠如何能够逃脱或被从即将到来的厄运和毁灭中解救出来，也没有传递盼望或恩典的信息，提供第⼆次机会。
Essentially Jonah gave this fire and brimstone message – his message title could have been something like “turn or burn!”
本质上，约拿给出了这条⽕与硫磺的信息——他的信息标题可以是类似于“不悔改就毁灭”
But, surprisingly, despite Jonah’s reluctance and brevity, the people of Nineveh respond. Despite no message of hope, or grace, or explanation on how to repent, but they repented – even the King.
但是，令⼈惊讶的是，尽管约拿并不情愿⽽且⾔辞简短，尼尼微⼈回应了。尽管没有盼望，恩典，或如何悔改的解释，但他们悔改了，甚⾄国王也悔改了。
Chapter three continues...
第三章继续……
The people of Nineveh believed God’s message, and from the greatest to the least, they declared a fast and put on burlap to show their sorrow. When the king of Nineveh heard what Jonah was saying, he stepped down from his throne and took off his royal robes. He dressed himself in burlap and sat on a heap of ashes. Then the king and his nobles sent this decree throughout the city: “No one, not even the animals from your herds and flocks, may eat or drink anything at all. People and animals alike must wear garments of mourning, and everyone must pray earnestly to God. They must turn from their evil ways and stop all their violence. Who can tell? Perhaps even yet God will change his mind and hold back his fierce anger from destroying us.”
尼尼微⼈就信服上帝，宣告禁⻝，从最⼤的到最⼩的都穿上麻⾐。这消息传到尼尼微王那⾥，他就从宝座起来，脱下朝服，披上麻布，坐在灰中。 他叫⼈通告尼尼微全城，说：“王和⼤⾂有令，⼈、畜、⽜、⽺都不可尝任何东⻄，不可吃，也不可喝⽔。⼈与牲畜都要披上麻布，切切求告上帝。各⼈要回转离开恶道，离弃⾃⼰掌中的残暴。 谁知道上帝也许会回⼼转意，不发烈怒，使我们不致灭亡。”(约拿书3:5-9)
Here we have, a reluctant prophet, who just preached an incomplete message about the seemingly inevitable judgement of God, and the people of Nineveh – a group of pagan Gentiles, come to faith.
在这⾥，我们看到，⼀个不情愿的先知，刚刚传播了⼀个不完整的信息，关于上帝似乎不可避免的审判，尼尼微⼈——⼀群异教徒外邦⼈，来信了。
But what happens next, is the most surprising thing of all...
但接下来发⽣的，是最令⼈惊讶的事情……
The Lord relents. He chose to not send the destruction that He had warned about. No fire and brimstone... No fire and destruction from heaven. As verse ten tells us...
耶和华怜悯。他选择不将把他警告过的毁灭带到这⾥。没有硫磺雷⽕……没有⽕和来⾃天堂的毁灭。正如第⼗节告诉我们的……
When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened.
上帝察看他们的⾏为，⻅他们离开恶道，上帝就改变⼼意，原先所说要降与他们的灾难，他不降了。(约拿书3:10 )
Not only did Jonah get a second chance, so too did the people of Nineveh. Revival breaks out!
不仅约拿得到了第⼆次机会，尼尼微⼈也得到了第⼆次机会。复兴突然发⽣了!
And if there was ever a question in Jonah’s mind regarding whether or not the Ninevites would repent, this was soon put to rest with a resounding “Yes!” Their repentance is clearly seen and is nothing short of remarkable.
如果约拿⼼⾥曾经想过尼尼微⼈是否会悔改的问题，那他很快就会⼤声地说:“是的!”他们的悔改是显⽽易⻅的，是令⼈瞩⽬的。
They knew what kind of people they were. They knew what they had done - not only to Israel but to many other countries. They knew the ruthlessness with which they had treated their enemies... If ever a culture deserved to pay for its sins against humanity, the Ninevites were those people. But they did much more than simply believe in God. They not only believed, but they showed their faith by fasting, putting on sackcloth, and praying. They repented.
他们知道⾃⼰是什么样的⼈。他们知道⾃⼰做了什么——不仅对以⾊列，⽽且对许多其他国家。他们知道⾃⼰对待敌⼈是多么残酷。如果有⼀种⽂化应该为他们对⼈类犯下的罪⾏付出代价，那尼尼微⼈就是这些⼈。但他们所做的远不⽌是简单地相信上帝。他们不但信，⽽且禁⻝，穿麻⾐，祷告，以此表明他们的信⼼。他们悔改。
If we go back to comparing chapter 1 and 3, which we said we’re pretty much an imitation of each other, you might have noticed one small difference. In chapter one... “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” (Jonah 1:2)
如果我们回去⽐较第⼀章和第三章，我们说这两处⼏乎是在效仿彼此，你可能会注意到⼀个⼩的差异。在第⼀章……“起来，到尼尼微⼤城去，向其中的居⺠宣告，因为他们的恶已达到我⾯前。” (约拿书1:2 )
Compared with chapter 3... “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.” (Jonah 3:1-2).
与第三章⽐较…“到尼尼微⼤城去，把我告诉你的信息向其中的居⺠宣告。” (约拿书3:2)
Did you see the slight difference? Jonah’s task remains the same, however in chapter 1, Jonah was commanded to preach against Nineveh – indicating a tone of judgement and condemnation, while in chapter 3, he is commanded to preach to the Ninevites – a posture of grace.
你看到细微的差别了吗?约拿的任务仍然是⼀样的，然⽽在第⼀章，约拿被命令向尼尼微⼈传道，这表明了⼀种审判和谴责的语⽓，⽽在第三章，他被命令向尼尼微⼈传道，以恩典的姿态。
This shows us that God was willing to be gracious to the Ninevites despite their sin – the exact same grace he showed to the Jonah who had run away. And a reminder that He is not only a God of judgement but also a God who delights in people repenting and turning away from their sin. We see that God’s nature is gracious and forgiving. He’s a God of grace. He is the God of the second chance. Our gracious God gave Nineveh a second chance.
这表明上帝愿意对尼尼微⼈施恩，尽管他们有罪——就像他对逃跑的约拿施恩⼀样。也提醒我们，神不仅是审判⼈的神，也是喜悦⼈悔改、离弃罪的神。我们看到上帝的本性是仁慈和宽容的。他是仁慈的上帝。他是给予第⼆次机会的上帝。我们仁慈的上帝给了尼尼微第⼆次机会。
In this series, we are stepping back from Jonah’s story and looking at ways that we too can be like Jonah and I believe that from this chapter, there are three more ways...
在这个系列中，我们从约拿的故事中退⼀步来看，我们也可以像约拿⼀样，我相信在这⼀章中，还有三种⽅式……
The first is this:
第⼀个是:
1. I am Jonah when I accept God’s grace, but my attitude hasn’t really changed.
1. 当我接受上帝的恩典，但我的态度并没有真正改变时，我就是约拿。
Despite God offering him a second chance, Jonah never actually admitted that what he had done in running away from God in the first place was wrong. He was thankful – don’t get me wrong about that! He was grateful for the grace that God had shown him when he offered him a second chance, and he went on and outwardly obeyed, but this raises the question...
Did his attitude really change?
尽管上帝给了约拿第⼆次机会，但他从未承认⾃⼰当初逃离上帝的⾏为是错的。他是感激的——别误会我的意思!他感谢上帝给了他第⼆次机会，他继续向前，表⾯上服从了，但这⼜引出了⼀个问题……
他的态度真的改变了吗?
I think he was grateful for God’s grace – to be rescued from drowning and given another chance, but there was still had a lot of work to do in transforming Jonah’s character.
我认为他感激上帝的恩典——从溺⽔中被救出来，给了他第⼆次机会，但要改变约拿的性格，还有很多⼯作要做。
When have you accepted God’s grace, but might have left your attitude unchecked and unchanged?
你什么时候接受了上帝的恩典，却没有改变⾃⼰的态度?
Or, where is your attitude right in this moment?
或者，你此刻的态度如何
Was the rude comment you made to our significant other a reflection of Jesus?
Was the attitude you had in traffic the other day a reflection of Jesus?
Was the attitude you had in the McDonald's drive through a reflection of Jesus?
Was how you interacted with your children or even grandchildren when they were getting on your nerve a reflection of Jesus?
Has your attitude at work or with your friends been a reflection of Jesus?
你对重要的⼈的粗鲁评论有反映耶稣的样⼦吗?
你那天对堵⻋的态度有反映耶稣的样⼦吗?
你在⻨当劳开⻋等打包⻝物的态度有反映耶稣的样⼦吗?
当你的孩⼦甚⾄孙⼦们惹恼你的时候，你和他们的互动⽅式有反映耶稣的样⼦吗?
你对⼯作或对朋友的态度有反映耶稣的样⼦吗?
I am Jonah when I accept God’s grace, but my attitude hasn’t really changed.
当我接受上帝的恩典，但我的态度并没有真正改变时，我就是约拿。
The second way we too can be like Jonah is this:
我们会像约拿的第⼆种⽅式是：
2. I am Jonah... when I obey God but my heart really isn’t in it.
2. 当我表面顺服上帝，但我的⼼并没有真正顺服的时候，我就是约拿。
Jonah’s speech to Nineveh, is probably one of the shortest, sharpest declarations in all of Scripture. It’s short and to the point and while he obeyed, it seems that he is still very much a reluctant prophet, looking to get in and out of Nineveh as quickly as possible – essentially doing the bare minimum in order to fulfill his mission. He doesn’t offer the city an “if-then” scenario; he doesn’t tell them what must be done to avert judgement; in fact he offers them no hope of escape at all. It’s pretty much God’s verdict is in: destruction in forty days. Job done; can I go home now?
约拿对尼尼微的讲话，可能是圣经中最短，最尖锐的声明之⼀。这段话简短明了，虽然他服从了，但看起来他仍然是⼀个不情愿的先知，想要尽快地进出尼尼微—基本上是为了完成他的使命。他没有给这座城市提供⼀个“如果——那么”的场景;他没有告诉他们必须做什么才能避免审判;事实上，他根本没有给他们任何逃离审判的希望。这差不多就是上帝的裁决:四⼗天内毁灭。完成⼯作;我现在可以回家了吗?
He obeys. But his heart isn’t in it.
他看起來顺服。但他的⼼不在这⾥。
He doesn’t plead with the people to repent. Doesn’t get them to try and change their ways. Does nothing to suggest that there is anything at all that they can do to turn God’s wrath away from them. Jonah seems to have delivered his message in a way deliberately designed to ensure the people did not change their minds and the only real conclusion we can draw is that Jonah did not want Nineveh to be saved – he wanted it to be destroyed. Like we said earlier – he pretty much went around shouting “turn or burn!” Probably with little enthusiasm. Remember, with outward obedience. He doesn’t want to go through that whole storm, thrown overboard, drowning, big fish situation all over again.
他不恳求⼈们悔改。不会让他们改变⾃⼰的⽣活⽅式。没有任何迹象表明他们可以做任何事情来让上帝的愤怒远离他们。约拿似乎故意以⼀种⽅式传达他的信息，以确保⼈们不会改变他们的想法，我们能得出的唯⼀真正的结论是，约拿不希望尼尼微得救，他希望它被摧毁。就像我们之前说的，他⼏乎到处喊着“要不悔改要不毁灭!”可能都没什么热情。记住，他是外在的顺服。他不想再经历那⼀场⻛暴，被扔到海⾥，溺⽔，被⼤⻥吃掉那样的情形。
There’s no enthusiasm. No mention of God’s love and mercy, no call to repent and renounce evil ways, no words designed to spur people to action. God had promised to destroy Nineveh and that is what Jonah wanted to see happen. Even after his own experiences of the loving grace and mercy that God had shown to him, he didn’t want to see such love extended to people he considered unworthy of it.
没有热情。没有提到上帝的爱和怜悯，没有呼吁忏悔和放弃邪恶的⽅式，没有旨在激励⼈们⾏动的语⾔。神应许要毁灭尼尼微，这就是约拿想要看到的。即使在他⾃⼰经历了上帝对他的慈爱和怜悯之后，他也不愿意看到这种爱延伸到他认为不值得的⼈身上。
Overall, Jonah’s obedience doesn’t necessarily mean that he’s had a change of heart.
总的来说，约拿的顺服并不⼀定意味着他改变了内⼼。
How often are we the same?
我们有多少次是和约拿⼀样的?
At times, we too can outwardly obey, but inwardly be far from God.
有时，我们也可以外表顺服，但内⼼却远离神。
We might attend church religiously on Sundays, never missing a week, but are we passionate about joining God’s people to worship Him?
我们可能会在星期⽇虔诚地去教堂，从不缺席⼀周，但是我们是否热衷于与神的⼦⺠⼀起敬拜他呢?
We might spend time in God’s word daily, but how often are we putting what we read into practice? Is it just another chore, or something ticked off the to do list? Or do our heart really takes delight in his Word.
我们可能每天都花时间在神的话上，但是我们有多少时间把我们读到的付诸实践呢?它只是另⼀件杂务，还是待办事项清单上的⼀项任务?我们的⼼真的喜欢他的话语吗?
We might sing songs of praise and worship, but are we worshipping from the heart, or are our lips just moving while our mind is on what’s happening later in the day?
我们可能会唱赞美和敬拜的歌，但我们是发⾃内⼼的敬拜，还是我们的只是嘴唇在动，⽽我们的⼤脑在想今天晚些时候发⽣的事情?
Ultimately, obedience flows from a heart that is truly devoted to God.
归根到底，顺服来⾃于真正奉献给神的⼼。
This leads to a third way that I think we too can be like Jonah:
这就引出了第三种我认为我们也会像约拿⼀样的⽅式
3. I am Jonah when I only communicate one aspect of the biblical message.
3.当我只传达圣经信息的⼀个⽅⾯时，我就是约拿。
How often do we only communicate the bad news but leave out the good?
我们是否经常只传达坏消息⽽忽略好的消息?
Jonah didn’t communicate a message of grace, forgiveness or hope, but instead brought a message brought a message about the Ninevites wickedness and the upcoming destruction. He failed to announce the good news – that forgiveness and deliverance was available in they repented. He failed to tell them that God is the God of second chances.
约拿没有传达恩典，宽恕或盼望的信息，⽽是带来了⼀个关于尼尼微⼈的邪恶和即将到来的毁灭的信息。他没有宣布⼀个好消息——宽恕和拯救是可以在他们悔改的时候得到的。他没有告诉他们，上帝是给予第⼆次机会的上帝。
Or how often do we do the opposite to Jonah – we only share half the message. Jonah preached the bad news and left out the good, but how often are we guilty of preaching the good news and leaving out the bad. We talk about the unfailing love of God. We celebrate the forgiveness that Jesus offers. We preach all of the good news – and we should because that’s the gospel! But I think we often jump to the good news, without helping people understand the bad news of our sin and rebellion against God.
或者有多少次我们做了与约拿相反的事——我们只分享了⼀半的信息。约拿传坏消息⽽不传好消息，但我们有多少次因为只传好消息不传坏消息⽽有罪呢?我们谈论上帝的慈爱。我们庆祝耶稣提供的宽恕。我们宣扬所有的好消息——我们应该这样做，因为那是福⾳!但是我认为我们经常跳转到好消息上去，⽽没有帮助⼈们理解关于我们的罪和对神的不顺从的坏消息。
We live in a culture that doesn’t believe in sin or right or wrong... where culture is defined by all about me-me-me, pleasing your own wants and desires, looks, short-term sexual relationships, material objects, and making money. But if people are going to understand the good news of grace, they need to understand the bad news of sin and judgement as well.
我们⽣活在⼀个不相信有罪和对错的⽂化中……在那⾥，⽂化被定义为“我-我-我”，满⾜你⾃⼰的需求和欲望、外貌、短期性关系、物质对象和赚钱。但是如果⼈们想要理解恩典的好消息，他们也需要理解罪和审判的坏消息。
I am Jonah...
When I accept God’s grace, but my attitude hasn’t really changed.
When I obey God but my heart really isn’t in it.
When I only communicate one aspect of the biblical message
当我接受上帝的恩典，但我的态度并没有真正改变的时候
当我顺服上帝，但我的⼼没有真正顺服的时候
当我只传达圣经信息的⼀个⽅⾯时
我就是约拿
But the good news is this:
Just like Jonah, and just like the Ninevites...
Despite whatever I have done. My attitude or the status of my heart. My own running away from God. When I resist God altering my life plans. When I fail to talk to God, or don’t trust his goodness and grace. When I don’t put His word into practice. When I am Jonah...
但好消息是:
就像约拿，就像尼尼微⼈…
不管我做了什么。我的态度或我的⼼的状态。我⾃⼰逃离上帝。当我拒绝上帝改变我的⼈⽣计划。当我⽆法与上帝对话，或者不相信他的仁慈和恩典时。当我不把他的话付诸实践时。当我是约拿时…
Our gracious God gives us a second chance too.
我们仁慈的上帝也给了我们第⼆次机会。
God offered Jonah a second chance...
He gave the Ninevites a second chance.
And countless times throughout history, we see God graciously choose to forgive people for their wrongdoing and sin when they turn to Him.
上帝给了约拿第⼆次机会……
他给了尼尼微⼈第⼆次机会。
纵观历史，我们⽆数次地看到，当⼈们转向他时，神仁慈地选择宽恕他们的过错和罪。
He specialises in second chances. When we’ve messed up. When we’ve rebelled. When we’ve fallen astray. When we flee from the plans He’s un-folded before us, and tried to run in the opposite direction. Jesus still reaches out and gives us a second chance.
他专注于给第⼆次机会。当我们搞砸了。当我们违背了他。当我们误⼊歧途。当我们逃避他在我们⾯前展开的计划，并试图朝相反的⽅向跑去的时候。耶稣仍然伸出⼿，给我们第⼆次机会。
Because that’s who our God is.
因为这就是我们的上帝。
I think Paul summed this up so beautifully in Romans 3, and in this profound passage about Jesus on the cross, he wrote:
我认为保罗在《罗⻢书》第三章中完美地总结了这⼀点，在这段关于耶稣被钉在⼗字架上的深刻的章节中，他写道:
We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus. (Romans 3:22-26 NLT)
就是上帝的义，因信耶稣基督加给⼀切信的⼈。这并没有分别， 因为世⼈都犯了罪，亏缺了上帝的荣耀， 如今却蒙上帝的恩典，藉着在基督耶稣⾥的救赎，就⽩⽩地得称为义。 上帝设⽴耶稣作赎罪祭，是凭耶稣的⾎，藉着信，要显明上帝的义；因为他⽤忍耐的⼼宽容⼈先前所犯的罪，好使今时显明他的义，让⼈知道他⾃⼰为义，也称信耶稣的⼈为义。(罗⻢书3:22-26)
God’s justice means that He judges our sin, but Scripture makes it clear that when Jesus died on the cross – He paid the price for our sins as our substitute by taking on himself the wrath of God against our sin. That all who put their faith in Jesus – both Jews and Gentiles, are declared to be righteous of God because of Jesus’s sacrifice upon the cross.
神的公义意味着他审判我们的罪，但是圣经清楚地表明，当耶稣死在⼗字架上的时候，他为我们的罪付上了代价，代替我们承担了神对我们罪的忿怒。所有相信耶稣的⼈，包括犹太⼈并外邦⼈，因耶稣被钉在⼗字架上⽽被宣告为上帝的义⼈。
I took one accounting paper in university – “accounting 151” – and to this day I claim it to be the most boring paper I ever took! No way do I want to be an accountant... But I do remember one line that the professor said, and that line was this... “There is no such thing as a free lunch.” Don’t be ridiculous I thought, of course there is! That’s why I’d hang around waiting for my parents on a Sunday to say “where you guys going for lunch?” But what this saying really means is, that lunch might seem free to you and me, but somewhere, somehow, somebody paid for that lunch.
我在⼤学⾥学过⼀⻔会计学——“会计学151”——直到今天，我还说这是我学过的最⽆聊的课!我才不想当会计呢……但我记得当时教会计学的教授说的⼀句话，那句话是这样的……‘天下没有免费的午餐’。别傻了，我想，当然有!这就是为什么我会在周⽇等我⽗⺟问我"你们去哪⼉吃午饭? "但这句话的真正意思是，这顿午餐对你我来说可能是免费的，但在某个地⽅，某种程度上，有⼈为这顿午餐付了钱。
And the same is true for our salvation. It might seem free to you and me – which it is – but somewhere, somehow, somebody paid for that salvation. And that person was Jesus.
我们的救赎也是如此。对你我来说，这似乎是免费的——确实如此——但在某个地⽅，某种程度上，有⼈为这种救赎付出了代价。那个⼈就是耶稣。
That is why our gracious God could be the God of the second chance for a wayward prophet who had run away.
这就是为什么我们仁慈的上帝可以成为⼀个逃跑的任性先知的第⼆次机会的上帝
That is why our gracious God could be the God of the second chance for the city of Nineveh.
这就是为什么我们仁慈的上帝可以成为尼尼微城第⼆次机会的上帝。
And that is why our gracious God can be the God of the second chance for you.
这就是为什么我们仁慈的上帝能给你们第⼆次机会。
It was because of grace that despite the attitude of Jonah’s heart, the people of Nineveh were saved. And because of grace, God too offers us a second chance.
因为恩典，尽管约拿⼼⾥是那样的态度，尼尼微⼈还是得救了。因为恩典，上帝也给了我们第⼆次机会。
Because that’s who God is.
因为那就是上帝。
No matter what has happened in your past. The amount of times you might have messed up. Or no matter how your future has been restricted by past mistakes. I want you to know that you are forgiven, you are accepted, God is not done with you, and He hasn’t set you aside. God will find some way for you to fit in to what he is doing in this world.
不管过去发⽣过什么。你搞砸的次数。或者不管你的未来如何被过去的错误所限制。我想让你知道，你被赦免了，你被接纳了，上帝并没有完结你，他也没有把你撇在⼀边。上帝会找到⼀些⽅法让你适应他在这个世界上所做的事情。
He is the kind of God who lets the rugby player who missed and lost the team the game, step up and take the most important shot of the year.
He is the kind of God who gives a failed salesperson the most important client.
He is the kind of God who casts the inexperienced actor as the lead role.
He is the type of God who gives the junior surgeon a chance to step up.
他是那种上帝，会让错过⽐赛、让球队输掉⽐赛的橄榄球运动员站出来，投出年度最重要的⼀球。
他是那种给失败的推销员最重要的客户的上帝。
他是那种让没有经验的演员当主⻆的上帝。
他是那种会给初级外科医⽣升职机会的上帝。
Our gracious God is the God of second chances.
我们恩慈的上帝是願意给我们第⼆次机会的上帝
Will you let him give you the second chance too?
Let’s pray
Father thank you for your grace in our lives.
Even when our attitude doesn’t reflect it or when we do things half-heartedly.
Hope us to allow your grace to transform every part of my life and character.
Thank you that you give us second chances over and over and over again. and help us to put practices into our lives that come from the overflowing passion and love for you rather than our old habits.
Thank you, Jesus.
让我们一起來祈祷：
父啊，感谢你在我们生命中的恩典。
即使我们的态度没有反映出来，或者我们做事情半途而废。
希望我们能让你的恩典改变我生活和性格的每一部分。
感谢你一次又一次地给我们第二次机会。并帮助我们将来自于对你溢出的热情和爱的做法放入我们的生活，而不是我们的旧习惯。
谢谢你，耶稣
