Devotional: A Second Chance From God.....




Jesus calls you who are separated from Him...He calls you who are broken...He calls you who are addicted...He calls those of us who are lost, lonely, sad...those of us who didn't get the life we should have gotten....those who have made a mess of your life....that is why Jesus came. That is why He came to seek out the lost and to heal the spiritually sick. He offers healing to all that is broken. 

 The "Good News" is that a sick person can become healthy. Part of our healing process is allowing Jesus to lead us away from our sickness. Jesus welcomes us...as the song goes..."Just As I Am" but, He doesn't want to leave us that way. 

 When Jesus calls us into the kingdom, He calls us to do two things. We can see it in Mark 1:15 and also in Matthew 4:17. In Matthew 4:17, Jesus very first word in the Gospel is "Repent." "Repent," Jesus said, "because the kingdom of God is here." In Marks Gospel, Jesus puts it this way, "The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe the Good News!" 

 He calls us who are a mess....but, He doesn't want us to stay there. God's gift of repentance is a second chance. Just think about it this way...when you read the word "Repent" substitute it with "Second Chance." What an awesome gift that is! Who doesn't want a second chance? When reading Matthew 4:17, read it this way...."Second chance, the reign of God is here." That is God saying that He is going to give us a chance to do this over again. He wants to give us an opportunity to have the life He wants us to have. 

 Another gift that God gives us is "Faith." Faith can simply be summed-up with the word, "Trust." Jesus wants us to trust Him. Most of our addictions, most of our sinfulness are just efforts to mask something that is broken within us. Faith is trusting that Jesus can take care of that and realizing that we don't need the other alternatives. 

 A faith journey will allow us to release all the stuff that is messing up our lives. Then, we can have all that God wanted us to have in the first place. Jesus came for people like you an me. 

 You are not too far from Him and He wants you. And, if you will accept His offer of a second chance and trust Him....He really will give you an abundant life. And, that is my prayer for each of us. Amen!


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