One More Chance

By: Jenifer Metzger

Because of the Lord’s faithful

love we do not perish, for His

mercies never end. They are

new every morning; great is

Your faithfulness! I say, “The

Lord is my portion, therefore

I will put my hope in Him.”

Lamentations 3:22-24 CSB

My five year old grandson is the oldest between he and his brother as well as the oldest among his cousins on both sides of his family. Because of this, he often thinks he knows best and is in charge. I'm an oldest child and grandchild so I get it. This morning his two year old cousin was doing something he shouldn't and while I was correcting him, big cousin jumped in and said, "Grammie, he gets another chance. God gives us one more chance." Well, how can I argue with that!?

The truth is, God doesn't just give us one more chance. God is so patient and kind with us, He is full of grace toward us, He gives us new mercies every single day.

What should we say then? Should

we continue in sin so that grace may

multiply? Absolutely not! How can

we who died to sin still live in it?

Romans 6:1-2 CSB 

Now, just because of God's kindness and grace, that doesn't mean we get to simply keep on sinning. We repent -we ask forgiveness and turn away from that sin- and strive to not continue in the sin. If we do mess up, if we do fall, we can be sure of God's forgiving grace and new mercies. But we once we repent, we die to that sin, and like Paul said, how can we die in it, yet keep doing it?

God gives us second chances out of His deep love for us and His desire that we live for Him. He doesn't keep on giving us chances so that we can keep on sinning. Sin has consequences and when we continue to live in sin, we will suffer the consequences. So we can be thankful for His mercies, His "one more chance" but still strive to live right with Him.

Let's praise God for His new mercies every day, for His gracious second chances, but let's work toward walking away from our sins and living in righteousness with God.

Discussion:
1. Think of a time you experienced God's second chances in your life.
2. Now think of something in your life that you have been leaning on those extra chances and need to fully repent from.