Second Chances

a second chance

There are many situations in life where we have made mistakes and need a second chance to make things right. Relationships that are personal, school, or work related all require effort on everyone’s part to keep things flowing smoothly. When wrong things get said, or things are handled in an unsatisfactory manner, feelings get hurt, and grace is needed to make amends. Sometimes this grace needs to be extended more than two times, hence the title “Second Chances”

Grace (charis in Greek), according to Holman Bible Dictionary, is “undeserved acceptance and love received from another.” Charis, which is related to the word ‘for joy’or ‘pleasure’, originally referred to something delightful or attractive in a person that brought pleasure to others. Our use of charismatic: “He has an engaging, charismatic personality”. From this the term came to indicate a favor, gift, or kindness that pleased someone else.

Jesus demonstrated grace with the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15) and the woman caught in adultery (John 8). The Lord also favored Peter, who denied Him at the crucifixion. Jesus was God, or the heavenly Father, in flesh; demonstrating grace and favor to those who didn’t deserve it. Jesus gave people second chances; and as His followers we are to do the same toward those who offend us.

Peter was always saying that he would never allow his Lord to be killed. It is believed that he is the one in the garden who drew his sword and cut off the ear of the servant of the high priest. Jesus patiently repaired the servant’s ear as he told Peter to put his sword away, saying if we live by the sword, then we shall die by the sword. Jesus wants us to live by the Word of God as our spiritual sword. The evil that is behind all men is of the evil spirit of the devil; and only spiritual weapons will defeat him.

After Jesus rose from the dead He met His disciples on the beach one morning. (John 21:14) Peter might have expected the Lord to say, “Didn’t I tell you that you would be cowardly under pressure?” Read John 21:15-17.

What does Jesus do instead of rebuking Peter? Jesus gently asks Peter three times if he loves Him; one time for each time Peter had denied Him. Can you imagine demonstrating that kind of love to those who hurt us? Yet this is what Jesus expects us to do until seventy times seven or as many times as it takes.

He taught us to pray, “Father forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us”. Our forgiveness is conditional on our forgiving those who hurt us. If we want the Lord to give us a second chance, then the Lord expects us to give those around us second chances first.

The Greek verbs in this passage reveal a rich meaning to Christ’s apparently repetitive questions. In John chapter 21, verses 15 and 16, Jesus uses agape, which means to love affectionately, ardently, supremely, fully. It indicates a decision to love as an act of the will. Peter responds every time with phileo, which means to love, to like, to regard, to feel friendship for another. It is emotional or feeling-based.

Christ was asking, “Peter, do you love Me ardently and supremely? Have you made a volitional decision to love me?” Peter replied, “Lord, I feel an affection for you. I do esteem you”.

In John 21:17, Jesus finally uses the same verb Peter does — phileo. In essence, He asks, “Do you feel an affection for Me and do you esteem Me?”

People sometimes regret sin merely because of its painful consequences, such as the embarrassment of getting caught. They might not be sorry for their disobedience. We see this a lot on the nightly news as people stand before the judge and their accusers, receiving sentencing. The look in their eyes and the tone in their voices tell you that they have no remorse for their wrongs. It is difficult for a judge to give grace to the ones who show no repentance. Even Paul instructed us not to keep company with those who refuse to walk in Truth. (Ephesians 5:11, I Corinthians 5:9, & II Corinthians 6:14)

In verses 15 and 17, the Lord says to feed His lambs; but in verse 16, He tells Peter to tend His flock. This second word in Greek means to feed, take care of, guide, govern, and defend. Peter later charged other church leaders to do the same. (1 Peter 5:2.)

Peter went on to write two books of the New Testament. He was the leading preacher on the Day of Pentecost, seeing three thousand souls baptized in Jesus name and filled with the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38-41) He was a leader at the church in Jerusalem. In the Book of Acts, Peter heals the sick, casts out demons, raises the dead, and sees visions about the Lord using Paul as a missionary to the Gentile nations.

Peter truly was a ‘Rock’ to the early church as Jesus said he would be. He just had to go through some rough testing to reveal what was in his heart to himself, so he could decide with his mind and not just his heart that he truly did love the Lord. Peter is reported to have died upside down on a cross, as he didn’t feel worthy to die in the same way as his Lord. Peter started out well, faltered along the way, but accomplished great things for his Lord; yet ended up dying for his faith, proving his love for his Lord. He made things right, even though he had to die a horrible death.

How about you, do you feel unusable because of past sin? You can confess your disobedience in genuine repentance. God will be faithful to forgive you (1 John 1:9). You can then ask Him to direct you into the place He has for you. Our merciful heavenly Father is the God of second, third and fourth chances.

Father, I ask that you will reveal your desire to each soul that you are a God of mercy and of grace. You are waiting for us to return to you, acknowledging our need of your help and forgiveness. Help us not to allow condemnation, guilt and shame to keep us away from you. You convict us, but you do not condemn us. You discipline us, but you do not beat us. Only when we refuse to respond with our will to your love, will we find ourselves without mercy. We see the day fast approaching when you will return for your believers and when the door of mercy will be closed. Convict us of our need to have someone greater than ourselves to guide our lives, before it is too late. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

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