Second Chances

Ephesians 2:1-10

　
　
We live in a world where second chances don’t come naturally.

Recently my wife and I went out of town for the weekend. However, we left a half-hour late. Then the traffic on the two-lane highway was really heavy. We drove through the small town of Kenton, which had ridiculously heavy traffic.

As we left Kenton going northbound I passed two semis and thought, "now I can make up some time". Unfortunately, the State Trooper who stopped me for speeding didn’t see it that way. He could have given me a second chance, but he didn’t.

Human nature doesn’t believe in second chances, especially when it comes to the other guy. We want justice, the way that we see justice. We want people to pay for their sins, unless we don’t have to pay. Otherwise, it just isn’t fair.

Jesus told the story of the Prodigal son. How did the older brother feel when his father sacrificed the fatted calf and had a big celebration for the return of his wayward brother? He resented it! It wasn’t fair! He wanted his brother to pay. He deserved to pay.

That my friend, is human nature – no second chances.

But we serve a God whose nature is all about second chances. The Bible is full of stories of God’s forgiveness, grace and mercy. The Father, who not only forgave his prodigal son, but welcomed him home and celebrated his return. Jesus, who while hanging on the cross for OUR sins, forgave the thief. There was nothing that either of them could do to earn forgiveness. It was a gift.

God offers that same gift to you and to me. In turn, God wants us to treat others with that same forgiveness, grace and mercy. That’s not easy an easy thing to do. I for one can be very judgmental if I feel I’ve been wronged. It can be directed at my wife, my boss, another driver on the highway, a good friend – really anybody.

"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins".

"But because of his great love for you, God, who is rich in mercy, made you alive with Christ even when you were dead in transgressions".

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – not by works, so that no one can boast".

"For you are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for you to do".
Meditate on these verses from this passage in Ephesians. Write them down. Think about how God has given you second chances and how you can give others a second chance by showing that same grace and mercy. And don’t speed around Kenton.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ephesians%202%3A1-10&version=NIV;TLB
http://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/niv/Eph.2.1-Eph.2.10