Scripture

Our verse for today comes from Psalm 51:7, “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. “

Background

Isn’t it great when you get an extra day off on holidays like Good Friday. It frees you up to do twice as much yard work (or have twice as many days of no yard work), and now you have double the opportunity to cook out. And whatever you don’t get around to doing on this first ” weekend, ” you can make sure you get to it during the second. It’s one of those rare instances where we know that we’ll be given a second chance if things don’t quite go like they should, or according to our plans.

Application

And that’s hardly ever the case in real life. Second chances, as they were, don’t come along every second. Oh, we like to think that we are forgiving and forbearing. We’re quick to say ” No problem, ” when someone apologizes for inconveniencing or annoying us. But that costs us little, or nothing, of ourselves, and is usually dismissed as quickly as it arose. But when something hits us close to home, when someone treads where they ought not tread, then there is a problem. And an apology is usually not enough. They’ve got to prove that they’re worthy of our forgiveness. We can’t just give them a second chance, or they might think they deserve a third one. Maybe reading it now like this illuminates how wrong we are when we do this. Perhaps you’ll see where you need to be more gracious than you have been. For what is our salvation but the second chance of all time? How much worse could we have blown it, yet Jesus lets us try again because we are forgiven, not to try and earn our forgiveness? I think following Jesus is all about second chances, and we are the ones to give them. What right do we have to do otherwise? How many more times do you want Jesus to die for you being offended?

Charge

As we seek Him today, check your heart to see if you are as forgiving as you think you are. Call on the mercy of God to help you let go of what you shouldn’t be holding on to.