Imagine you can smell the freshness of the cool Middle Eastern sunrise on the third day. The women arrive at the tomb early only to find that it is empty! Then they are startled by an angelic being informing them the Lord is not there but that he is risen. Then the angel says, “Go, tell his disciples—and Peter—that he is going before you into Galilee” (Mark 16:7).
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One might have expected the angel to say, “Go, tell the disciples—and Pilate,” or Herod, or any of the others who played a part in Jesus’ indictment. Or, “Go, tell the disciples—and John.” After all, John was the lone disciple standing at the foot of the cross that Friday. But our Lord knew Peter’s heart. He was the one who had so blatantly denied Christ in the hour of testing and was in dire need of a word of encouragement, a new beginning, a second chance. These two words make all the difference: “and Peter”!
[Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, The Nehemiah Code: An Interview with O. S. Hawkins]
Many of us are in need of a second chance. Perhaps you, too, have faced your own setbacks or sorrows. Perhaps you need these two little words today: “Go, tell the disciples—and [put your name here].” One failure doesn’t make a flop. You can have a new start, a new life, a new beginning. The second chance is not only possible but profitable . . . as Peter found out.
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One of the things each spring season brings is the sound of the cracking of the bat as baseball season begins. Let this be a reminder that even though you might strike out, you get to bat again! The gospel is the message of the second chance.
But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. — LAMENTATIONS 3:21–23 ESV
Lord, I thank You that no matter what I may have done . . . or not done, the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses me from all sin and provides for me a second chance. Your love never ceases, and Your mercies know no end. In Jesus’ name, amen.
[Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, The Daniel Code: An Interview with O. S. Hawkins]
The above article is excerpted from The Passion Code: 100 Days with Jesus by O.S. Hawkins. Copyright © November 2019 by Thomas Nelson. Published by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission of Thomas Nelson. www.thomasnelson.com. Pages 124-125. All rights reserved.
The Passion Code is published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.
Bio: O. S. Hawkins has served pastorates, including the First Baptist Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and the First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, for more than 25 years. A native of Fort Worth, Texas, he has three earned degrees (BBA, MDiv, and DMin) as well as several honorary degrees and is presently a PhD candidate at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the president of GuideStone Financial Resources, with assets under management of 16 billion dollars, serving 250,000 pastors, church staff members, missionaries, doctors, university professors, and other workers in various Christian organizations with their investment, retirement and benefit service needs. He is the author of more than 40 books, and speaks regularly to business groups and churches all across the nation. All of the author’s royalties and proceeds from the entire Code series go to support Mission:Dignity. You can learn more about Mission:Dignity by visiting MissionDignity.org.
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