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I so often need a second chance, how about you? But you know, sometimes we are very reluctant to give others a second chance, even though we’ve received them from God. Jesus told the parable of the unmerciful servant who asked the king to forgive him for the ten thousand talents he owed. He could never pay that huge debt, so in marvelous grace, the king agreed to forgive the debt and gave him a second chance. But what did the servant do? He turned around and demanded a small debt owed to him be paid immediately, and when his fellow servant couldn’t come up with the money right away, he threw him into prison.
Jesus was well aware of our tendency to accept his grace and take all the second chances we can get for ourselves but to be very stingy in the way we deal with others. Twila Paris used to sing a song that says “He’ll never give up on you, and neither will I, neither will I.” She reaffirms even though her friend had failed again, she was not going to stop believing and hoping she will accept God’s second chance for her.
Who have you given up on? Is there someone you’ve been tough on, when God wants you to give them a second chance and simply return some of the grace he has extended to you? In this parable of the unmerciful servant found in Matthew 18, Jesus teaches us if we aren’t willing to give others a second chance and be merciful to them as he has been to us, then he will withdraw from us the grace and second chance we so desire and need.
Being merciful means you forgive someone a debt they truly owe. They deserve to pay the debt, but you let them off the hook. Have you done that lately, or have you been sticking it to someone, judging them for their failures and refusing to let them up off the floor? If you and I want to know God’s blessing in our lives, we must give others a second chance.
I hope you’ll live in the glory of the truth that we have a God of Second Chances, because if you don’t need a second chance right now, you will soon. And I trust you’ll be willing to give others that same second chance. Remember, love suffers long; it keeps no records of the wrong done to it; love always hopes and always gives second chances.
