We all need them – at least I know I do and God gives them to me and to you every day, those wonderful, necessary, life-giving, hope filled second chances. (sometimes called “do overs”)

“He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.” (Psalm 103:10)

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His mercies never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23)

I am so thankful for my Heavenly Father’s limitless supply of mercy towards me. He gives me this on a daily basis, new every morning, just like the life sustaining manna that miraculously appeared new every morning in the desert, keeping the Israelites alive in that barren land. When I realize I got it wrong and I desire forgiveness and an opportunity to try again I trust in this promise from His word –

“If I confess my sin, He is faithful and just and will forgive me my sin and purify me from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

My Heavenly Father’s forgiveness gives me the second chance I so desire over and over and over again. So what do I do with all these second chances? I don’t want to take God’s mercy and forgiveness for granted. I want to be changed by His love for me, a love that never gives up on me. I sure don’t want to be like the guy in this one story – you know the one, right? There was this servant who owed a huge debt to the king, a debt so big he could never repay it, even if he worked his entire life to pay it off. So what happened? Well . . .

“The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.” (Matthew 18:27)

This is unexpected, undeserved and unbelievable. Not only did the servant not go to jail, the debt was canceled, forgiven, wiped away – he no longer owed anything, he was free! So what did this person do with his new-found freedom, his surprise second chance? Well . . .

“But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ But he (the forgiven servant) refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.” (Matthew 18:28-30)

Now – some fun facts you might want to know. How much debt had the king forgiven this man who refused to forgive his fellow servant? Here’s the backstory –

“Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.” (Matthew 18:23-25)

BUT – remember what happened? “The servant’s master took pity on him, (mercy) canceled the debt (forgiveness) and let him go. (freedom)” Now here’s the fun fact, the debt of “ten thousand talents” is a debt equal to millions of dollars! No wonder he would never be able to repay it. In comparison, his fellow servant owed him “a hundred denarii” – or a debt equal to only a few dollars.

The man who had been forgiven an unpayable debt, the man who had been given a second chance – this man could not find it in his heart to forgive his fellow servant even a few dollars. Unbelievable! (remember, he had his fellow servant thrown in prison for owing him just a few bucks) God gives me so many second chances every day. I want to make the most of each and every second chance that God graciously gives me. I don’t want to go back to my old ways after being forgiven. I want every second chance to change me, transforming me little by little into the person God is calling me to be.

It will ultimately require more second chances than I can count to accomplish God’s good purposes in me, but fortunately, my Heavenly Father does not give up on me! And He’s not stingy with the second chances. He keeps on offering me second chances filled with His forgiveness, hope and encouragement. All He asks of me is that I do the same for others.

“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:14-15)

That’s pretty clear. Unfortunately, the servant forgiven of his great debt didn’t make very good use of his second chance. He went right out and had his fellow servant put in prison for an insignificant debt against him. What happened after that? Well . . .

“When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened. Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. This is how my Heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.” (Matthew 18:31-35)

I don’t want to blow any second chances God gives me like this guy did. If God can forgive me of my huge debt, certainly I can forgive other people their very small debts. I am overwhelmed daily with God’s mercy and forgiveness to me, new every morning – yet another undeserved second chance. I cannot keep that to myself. I will give the gift of a second chance to anyone and everyone, forgiving any debt they might owe me, knowing it is infinitesimally small compared to the debt I owe to God.

Thank You, God, for second chances.

” ‘Come now, let us reason together,’ says the Lord. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.’ ” (Isaiah 1:18)

sincerely, Grace Day