What will you do with your God-given fresh start?
Yesterday, the devotional was about the woman caught in adultery and Jesus giving her an opportunity to start fresh. She left Jesus’ presence knowing she was spared from death and had another chance to live. He did tell her to go and sin no more. What happened to her after that, the Bible doesn’t say. We only know she left Jesus with a fresh start.
How she chose to live her life going forward was on her. She couldn’t say, if only I had another chance, I’d do things differently. She was living in her new day – she could choose to do it right or wrong. Jesus told her she could go but don’t sin again. Another opportunity. What a blessing to have a God-given reset.
God gave Jonah a reset when He heard his prayer during his three-night stay in the belly of a whale. God made the whale spit him out, and Jonah took off running to Ninevah to do what he once refused to do – preach.
Cain was given one by God. He’d given God an offering that God didn’t accept. Abel, his brother, had given one that God did accept. Cain was angry, and God asked him, if you do what’s right, wouldn’t you be accepted? Cain walked away from that conversation and decided to kill Abel instead of doing right.
It’s easy to point fingers and say, oh, sister so-and-so is wrong, brother this-and-the-other is wrong. But it behooves us to use the spiritual mirror (the Word of God) to get our spiritual house in order because there will be a day when we will be held accountable for what we did with our resets.
Abel didn’t need a second chance because he had it together the first time – that’s marvelous! But I’m also grateful God included folks in the Bible who needed the precious gift called a reset!
22 It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23 (KJV)
10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. John 8:10-12 (KJV)
2 Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish’s belly,2 And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice. Jonah 2:1-2 (KJV)
3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord.4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering:5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.6 And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. Genesis 4:3-8 (KJV)
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God Romans 3:23 (KJV)
In the Master’s Service,
Author/Pastor Michele D Robertson
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Matthew 11:28-29 (KJV)