We should never believe the lie that our life is useless. There are many people in this world who have failed, fallen short and have not lived up to their greatest potential and they feel as if they have nothing left to offer this world because of their past mistakes and shortfalls. What we must all realize and keep in mind is that no man is without flaws and that all men have sinned and come short of the glory of God. We can’t have high expectations over our life because eventually we will falter, we will fail and we will find ourselves wanting. That is why we should all rejoice and be glad because we don’t have to be perfect in order for God to accept us. God is perfect for us. The Lord Jesus was the Lamb that was without spot or blemish and He became our sacrifice in order for us to become righteous in the eyes of God. Our sins separate us from God, but Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross redeemed us, sanctified us and made us righteous in God’s sight. Now all who have accepted the free gift of salvation are no longer separated from God, but have been adopted as sons and daughters of the Most High God. (Romans 3:23) (Galatians 4:1-7)

That is why we should be forgiving of ourselves and of others who have fallen short. We can’t hold people to such high standards because inevitably they will disappoint us because nobody is perfect, but when we adopt this type of thinking that we have all fallen short at one time or another, we won’t sever our relationships, but we will do our best to mend them and fix them as best as we can so that our loved ones will know that we are there for them just as we would hope for them to be there for us when we falter and fail. One of my favorite Scriptures about God choosing the unable to do His good works is found in 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.” (Ephesians 1:3-10) (1 John 4:7-11)

May we all strive to use our imperfections to make this world a better place. We could never do it on our own, but with God at the helm, the impossible becomes possible, the obstacles become straightened paths and every roadblock that tried to stop our progress will be cleared so that we may fulfill our life’s purpose and reach our final destination. God is able to do it through our simple vessel because when we surrender our will and allow His will to be done our life and the lives of those around us all become elevated to heights that we never dreamed or thought would be possible. (Philippians 4:13) (2 Corinthians 9:6-9)

I hope this message inspires and challenges your heart to believe in second chances for yourself as well as for those around you who have fallen short at one time or another.


A SECOND CHANCE

“Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.” - 2 Timothy 4:11

Bertrand Russell, the British philosopher, once remarked that "One should always keep an open mind, but not so open that one's brains fall out." To give irresponsible people a second (or third, or hundredth) chance is often to risk the loss of some gray matter—or worse. But it can also be the right and sensible thing to do.

Mark, later to author the gospel of Mark, had accompanied his uncle, Barnabas, and the Apostle Paul on a ministry journey that had taken them into Asia Minor (modern day Turkey). But for reasons unknown, he abandoned the group just when they were to enter the dangerous midlands and returned to his home in Jerusalem. Paul could not forgive him, and when Barnabas suggested they take Mark on the next journey, there was such a disagreement between them that Barnabas and Paul parted company (see Acts 15:36-39). Mark was out—until, from within a Roman prison, Paul opened his mind and gave him a second chance.

Sometimes we decide that a person is to be kept out of our circle. He wronged me . . . She betrayed my confidence . . . They have proven to be unworthy of my trust. And we think we are being strong in holding to our resolution. But stubbornness is a weak imitation of strength. Dostoyevsky said, “The cleverest person of all, in my opinion, is the man who calls himself a fool at least once a month.” Paul was wise enough finally to call himself a fool about this issue, and he called for Mark to rejoin him. Our opinion about another person never contains the whole truth, or the only truth.

My dad once relented on a family rule about no competitive sports on Sundays to let me play in the city championship hockey game. As he drove me to the rink, I asked why he had changed his mind. “Sometimes we make up rules just to keep from having to make decisions,” he said. Our resolve not to forgive serves the same purpose. Then we do not need to re-think a decision, re-do a relationship or re-live a hurt. Sometimes we refuse to allow “ourselves” a second chance because we lack the courage to try, to risk failing again. We lack hope.

A second chance made sense to Paul, and he offered it. It meant everything to Mark, and he took it. Both found that it is never too late to be what you might have been.

By Dr. Michael A. Halleen


Read and meditate on these scriptures:

1 Peter 3:10-12 “For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.”

Ephesians 4:29-32 “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.”

Proverbs 17:9 “He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.”

2 Timothy 4:7-8 “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.”

Philippians 4:8-9 “Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”

All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible. 


Today’s Selected Poem: LOOKING FOR JESUS
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem131.htm

Today’s Selected Testimony: HEALED FROM DEPRESSION
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony130.htm


In Christ’s Service,

Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry