People of a Second Chance

I wear a shirt that says People of a Second Chance. I love the reaction I get when I wear it. I have many people ask me what it means. I tell them that I believe in grace. I believe that becasue Jesus has shown me grace by not only not giving me what I deserve, but giving me much, much more then I dserve or could ever deserve. He died for my sin, He loves me, He accepts me, and He gives me awesome grace gifts.

The problem is I don't always show grace to others. I many times judge others and that is the very opposite of grace. God is teaching me that I don't have to judge others. I don't have to label others. I don't have to be fearful of others. I don't have mold others into who I want them or think they should be.

God is showing me that I can love others even if I don't approve of their actions. I can accept others even if they don't like me or accept me. I am not bound by others actions or reactions, I can be transformed by God's grace so that I treat others and react to others as Jesus does. I can be controlled by His Spirit and not my own natural spirit.

The key for that happening in my life is to allow God to constantly remind me that I am a work in progress. You see, some sins are more visible than others, but we all do it. We all sin. In Romans 3:23 Paul says, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." We all "miss the mark". That is what the word sin means. And we all truly miss the mark. I have no right to judge anyone, because I am just like them!

God has called me to keep an open heart and an open mind. And to extend grace to others just as Jesus extends grace to me.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls
                           Joe