Saturday, January 1, 2011

Second Chances


God is Gracious


Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth." So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.”  Genesis 9:15-17

The New Year can signify a time to start over, to make changes, to do things differently.  For that reason, many of us look forward to a new year – sometimes wishing they came sooner than every twelve months because as fallible humans, we welcome an opportunity to “do it over”.

Since creation, God has provided new beginnings. Noah built an ark so mankind could start over, but it did not last.  Then God made a promise to Abraham to make him the father of a great nation if he trusted God.  Abraham was faithful, but as time wore on, God’s people became more and more wicked.  They turned from God and took matters into their own hands – a strategy that ultimately leads to destruction.  Then, for 400 years God was silent.  But God is a God of second chances. He extended grace once again by sending his Son Jesus.  Jesus’ sacrifice illustrates the extent of God’s love for us and through Jesus we are able to know God personally.  With the 2011 New Year upon us, will you turn over the controls; once and for all and find your second chance in Jesus?

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.  Ephesians 2:8-9

Because God is gracious, through Jesus we have been given a second chance.

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