Read Colossians 3:13

It is inspiring to recognize how Jesus reacted to those who wronged Him. Jesus gave people a second chance and still does. When you begin to do things the way He did, you will encounter troubles (John 16:33). The world will resist you and pressure you to do things the wrong way but the wrong way does not work: “Small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life.” (Matt 7:14).

To do what pleases God takes grit, effort and keeping your eyes on God.

Paul writes in Colossians 3 to put to death whatever belongs to the earthly nature. This can be difficult because the earthly nature comes easy and includes anger, evil desires, greed and revenge.

Prepare for every day by asking God to help you be ready to fight for what is good and clothe yourself with God’s weapons of compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength and patience. These are the weapons that Jesus used. These weapons can be used in difficult times in dealing with others and I can be an example of Christ to them. It can help in giving others a second chance.

Have you asked God to give you these weapons? Use these weapons in the way you live, act, text, email and in everything.

Are you prepared?

In order to give somebody a second chance, I need to show gentleness and patience rather than anger and self-serving shouting. Do I knee-jerk react to others or do I respond with love? Prepare your day with prayer and be ready.

“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone.”

Colossians 3:13a

“To forgive means to write it off. Let it go. Tear up the account. It is to render the account canceled.

Warning: forgiveness and opening up to more abuse are not the same thing. Forgiveness has to do with the past. Reconciliation and boundaries have to do with the future. Limits guard my property until someone has repented and can be trusted to visit again. If they sin, I will forgive again, 70×7.” BOUNDARIES, the book by Dr. Henry Cloud.

“Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

Colossians 3:13b

God has given me a second chance and a third chance and more and He has done the same for you. We have the opportunity to give a second chance to people that we know and do it in the same way that God forgave you for your mistakes!

“You’ll sink our sins to the bottom of the ocean”.

Micah 7:19 MSG

Can you sink the painful mistakes of others to the bottom of the ocean floor and give them a second chance?

Tom Weckesser