Trusting God for a Second (or Third or Fourth) Chance

In review of Romans 5:1 it says, “By faith we have been made acceptable to God. And now, because of our Lord Jesus Christ, we live at peace with God”

Bottom Line:

Our faith is what puts us right with God. Through Jesus, we have peace with God.

What this means to me:

By my faith I have been made right and acceptable to God. Because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done I can live at peace with God.

Today's passage comes from the Book of Romans chapter 5. In this section Paul talks about how faith brings joy. He says since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we can have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ brings us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand. We can confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory. We can even rejoice when problems come our way, for we can know they are here to help us develop endurance, which further develops character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment, for we know how dearly God loves us, because he gives us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

I should never forget that Jesus is all about second chances, especially when I stumble. I can be grateful that his mercies are new every morning.

Jesus said, “I didn’t come to condemn the world.  I came to save it.”  This means that God didn’t stand behind me and shake his head disapprovingly when I blew it. I don’t need to feel ashamed about your past failures. God isn’t ashamed of me.

I think a lot of people go through life feeling guilty, judged, and criticized by God. They have no desire to spend time with the critical god they’ve imagined in their head who they’re sure is disappointed in them.

To move forward I need to accept that God loves me completely, totally, and unconditionally. Because Jesus died in my place on the cross, I am completely acceptable to God, no matter how many time I’ve blown it.

Romans 5:1 says, “By faith we have been made acceptable to God. And now, because of our Lord Jesus Christ, we live at peace with God” (CEV).

God wants to give me his best, no matter how many times I’ve failed in the past. The Bible says I have complete access to God and his power in my life if I know him. I don’t have to wait until I get my life together. I get all the amazing benefits of being a child of God today!

I can be completely and totally transformed, if I can become consistently aware of God’s unconditional, continuous, and never-ending love for me.

I can know that He longs to walk with me.  So instead of letting any of my past failures define me, I can understand God’s great love for me. His love will give me the power to do the unbelievable if I just follow him.