“Well then, should we keep on sinning
so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace?
Of course not!
Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?
Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death?
For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism.
And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father,
now we also may live new lives.”
Romans 6:1-4 (NLT2).
so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace?
Of course not!
Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?
Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death?
For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism.
And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father,
now we also may live new lives.”
Romans 6:1-4 (NLT2).
Praise God you woke up today. I know it's day 8 already of the New Year and you have already started on "Day 1" again of being "Complaint Free"! Me too. I have hope for both of us that we will become "Complaint Free." I don't know about you but, I am so grateful for the "Reset" button that God pushes for me, because of the Blood of Jesus my Savior. I don't deserve the fact that when I was black with sin, His blood ran red and washed me white as snow! But, I believe. I believe God loves me that much. Today, I will be thankful. Today is a new day. Today I will get back in the game and play my best.
Peter said: “He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.”
1 Peter 2:24 (NLT2).
So, because He does have mercy and does forgive, we can know that each day, as Jeremiah wrote while in captivity, “Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, ‘The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in Him!’” Lamentations 3:20-24 (NLT2)
Let me show the meaning of getting a restart.
On New Year's Day, 1929, Georgia Tech played University of California in the Rose Bowl. A player named Roy Riegels recovered a fumble for California. Somehow, he became confused and started running in the wrong direction. One of his teammates, downed him just before he crossed the goal line. When California attempted to punt, Tech blocked the kick and scored a safety.
That all came in the first half, and the men went into the dressing room. They sat down on the benches and on the floor, all but Riegels. He put his blanket around his shoulders, sat down in a corner, put his face in his hands, and cried like a baby.
Coach Price was quiet. Then the timekeeper came in and announced that there were three minutes before playing time. Coach Price looked at the team and said simply, "Men the same team that played the first half will start the second."
The players got up and started out, all but Riegels. He did not budge.
The coach looked back and called to him again; still he didn't move.
Coach Price went over to where Riegels sat and said, "Roy, didn't you hear me?
The same team that played the first half will start the second."
Then Roy Riegels looked up and said, "Coach, I can't do it to save my life. I've ruined you, I've ruined the University of California, I've ruined myself. I couldn't face that crowd in the stadium to save my life."
Then Coach Price reached out and put his hand on Riegels's shoulder and said to him: "Roy, get up and go on back; the game is only half over." And Roy Riegels went back played that second half with new energy and aggressiveness.
Like that coach, God speaks to each of us in our failures and discouragement, calling us by name and saying, “Get up and go on, the game is only half over.” You are still on the team! You are still in the game and the game is not over! God has pushed the restart button.
1 Peter 2:24 (NLT2).
So, because He does have mercy and does forgive, we can know that each day, as Jeremiah wrote while in captivity, “Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, ‘The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in Him!’” Lamentations 3:20-24 (NLT2)
Let me show the meaning of getting a restart.
On New Year's Day, 1929, Georgia Tech played University of California in the Rose Bowl. A player named Roy Riegels recovered a fumble for California. Somehow, he became confused and started running in the wrong direction. One of his teammates, downed him just before he crossed the goal line. When California attempted to punt, Tech blocked the kick and scored a safety.
That all came in the first half, and the men went into the dressing room. They sat down on the benches and on the floor, all but Riegels. He put his blanket around his shoulders, sat down in a corner, put his face in his hands, and cried like a baby.
Coach Price was quiet. Then the timekeeper came in and announced that there were three minutes before playing time. Coach Price looked at the team and said simply, "Men the same team that played the first half will start the second."
The players got up and started out, all but Riegels. He did not budge.
The coach looked back and called to him again; still he didn't move.
Coach Price went over to where Riegels sat and said, "Roy, didn't you hear me?
The same team that played the first half will start the second."
Then Roy Riegels looked up and said, "Coach, I can't do it to save my life. I've ruined you, I've ruined the University of California, I've ruined myself. I couldn't face that crowd in the stadium to save my life."
Then Coach Price reached out and put his hand on Riegels's shoulder and said to him: "Roy, get up and go on back; the game is only half over." And Roy Riegels went back played that second half with new energy and aggressiveness.
Like that coach, God speaks to each of us in our failures and discouragement, calling us by name and saying, “Get up and go on, the game is only half over.” You are still on the team! You are still in the game and the game is not over! God has pushed the restart button.
ACTION STEP: He gave the adulterous woman a restart; He gave the demonic Mary Magdalene a restart; He gave Peter the denier a restart; He gave Paul the persecutor a restart. He gave Moses the muttering murderer a new start and – He will do it for you, too! Get up and get back to the game. Your team needs you.
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