Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Let’s spend today witnessing God’s second chances.

Today’s scripture, Mark 14:38-40 (NLT) shares Jesus’ response to the Peter, James and John sleeping on doing what He asked. He said…
[38] Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” [39] Then Jesus left them again and prayed the same prayer as before. [40] When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open. And they didn’t know what to say.

Consider…
Many of us are familiar with the story of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane before going on a mockery trial and unjust crucifixion. And we often have heard the story told from the perspective of Jesus confessing raw human feelings about dreading His inhumane execution for everyone else’s sin.

However, today I want to explore another angle to the story…

• Jesus asked His most trusted disciples to keep watch for Him while He prayed
• The disciples failed Him by falling asleep
• Jesus checked in with them, woke them up, and gave them a second chance to stand and deliver
• The disciples failed again, and Jesus gave them another chance
• Despite the disciples failure, Jesus still used them to spread the gospel

This is an encouraging exchange because it shows us that God does not disqualify us because of our failures, rather He looks for opportunities to requalify us for the future. This revelation reminds me of another exchange with Peter and Jesus. Jesus said in Luke 22:31-34 (NLT)…
[31] “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. [32] But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.” [33] Peter said, “Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you, and even to die with you.” [34] But Jesus said, “Peter, let me tell you something. Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.”

Notice Jesus knew Peter’s flesh would fail, but He prayed that his faith wouldn’t fail. What I like about this particular exchange is the fact that Jesus told Peter that he would fail AND that he would come back. He expressed so much confidence in Peter that He told him to strengthen his brothers when he got back on track.

I believe Jesus is saying the same thing to us…

• I know you will let me down (Romans 3:23)
• I am praying that your failure doesn’t shake your faith (Romans 8:34)
• When you return, help others who are shaky too (Galatians 6:1)

I think we sometimes forget that we serve an infinite God with unlimited grace. The Apostle Paul explains in Romans 5:20-21 (ERV)…
[20] The law was brought in so that more people would sin the way Adam did. But where sin increased, there was even more of God’s grace. [21] Sin once used death to rule us. But God gave us more of his grace so that grace could rule by making us right with him. And this brings us eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

I/we beat ourselves up way too much, which demonstrates our lack of fully grasping God’s grace!

Psalms 103:12-14 (NLT) reminds us…
[12] He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. [13] The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. [14] For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust.

Someone, especially me, needs to remember that God knows how weak we are and has compassion. In fact, I think he knew we would fall short daily and need His mercy to get back on track. I imagine that’s part of why the Holy Spirit inspired the writing of Lamentations 3:20-25 (NLT). It shares the author’s hopeful lament…
[20] I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. [21] Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: [22] The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. [23] Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. [24] I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” [25] The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him.

It’s good to remember that no matter how bad things may seem, God will give us another chance to get on track with Him.

So today, no matter how off course you may feel, just remember, God will give you another chance to get it right.

Today’s Song is…
Second Chance

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)