Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. "Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
John 8:10-11
'Thank you for giving me a second chance, I wasn't sure you would but I'm glad you did'
Excerpt from an email to ZoeB
I came across a programme on BET a few days ago. There was a beautiful young woman, I can't even remember her name but she was sharing what I considered a testimony. She grew up in church, moved to a different state to further her career and then got pregnant. She was given a choice between her career or her baby and she chose to have her baby. She came back home to a small town to face the disappointment of her parents and the judgement of almost everyone else.
There is wrong and right and there's nothing wrong with calling someone out on wrong behaviour. But I ask myself what is the point of kicking someone who is already down? My friend from school had a baby out of wedlock and she told me that some of her 'church' friends stopped speaking to her. How does that help? Where is our compassion? Love is both conviction and compassion...not condemnation. We all have done things we're not willing to share with the world. God knows we did it too and yet we are all products of a second chance. He says 'freely we have received, freely we should also give'. We should be the ones teaching the world about love and not the other way around!
Back to the story, she said she cried every single day she was pregnant. Until her son was born. She said she talked to God and asked for His help. He gave her a second chance, she gave herself a second chance. Today she's walking in her destiny, beautiful and happy. Listening to her touched me deeply. One day we will all need a second chance, an opportunity to right a mistake we have made. To make things right, to get back on track. Will we receive it? Are we giving it?
I'm not advocating remaining in an environment that is detrimental to your sense of security. That's why is an iMeditate to take some time to think it through. I'm asking God to make my heart large enough to be a second chance giver. To see as He sees...beyond labels.
Meditations from ZoeB 4.2.11 on the couch..
4 comments:
May God make our hearts so large that we cannot resist being 'second-chance givers.' If we are to truly be like Christ, then there's no other option. If we ourselves have been giving second chances (and third, fourth, fifth etc)...then who are we not to do the same for our friends?
Amen and amen. Sometimes its hard but I know by grace He can give us the strength to do it.
I am a living testimony of a second chance from man (with God it will be like a 100 chance :-)) but I think the experience helped me understand not to judge people but to accept people despite their mistakes...and it is still an area I am working on
John 8:10-11 remains some of the verses of scripture that assures me of the love of God
We all like you pointed out, have one thing or the other we have done that ha cause us shame. If we are true to ourselves, we will be second chance givers. God bless you for reminding us that no one is perfect.
Post a Comment