The Grace of Do Overs
Good Morning Friends,
If you live in eastern North America, you’ll have to get up early to enjoy the show. It is going on right now as I write. The partial eclipse will be visible at sunrise and last for about 45 minutes. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun. When the three line up just right, a portion or all of the sun’s light gets blocked by the moon’s shadow striking Earth at the same time. But you really have to be in the right place to see it. Interesting that today we set our clocks back on a day with a partial eclipse.
We gain an hour in order to save light when we need it most. So check you clocks before you step outside. Who knows maybe Ben Franklin’s knowledge of Bible verses and astronomy sparked the idea of Daylight Savings Time. But for us I think the connection of all this…the opportunity is maybe more about Christ’s redeeming light converging in on us in The Grace of Do Overs.
Scripture: Isaiah answered, “This is the Lord’s sign to you that the Lord will do what he has promised: Shall the shadow go forward ten steps, or shall it go back ten steps?” “It is a simple matter for the shadow to go forward ten steps,” said Hezekiah. “Rather, have it go back ten steps.”
2 Kings 20:9-10 (NIV)
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Colossians 4:5-6 (NIV)
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
Ephesians 5:8-14 (NIV)
Message: Lamorris Hall is the lone survivor of the Halloween accident in Immokalee. Things converged in such a way in the accident for him to live through it. He gets a do over of sorts. The Bible is filled with stories of second chances. Jacob and Esau were reconciled. Joseph and his brothers as well. Everyone Jesus healed got a second chance. Peter denied Christ and yet got a do over. Paul as well. In II Kings, chapter 20, Hezekiah, on his death bed was visited by the prophet Isaiah who told him that he was not going to die…he was going to get a second chance. Hezekiah did not believe him and asked for a sign as proof. God redeemed the time for him and Good King Hezekiah experienced the shadows going backwards. Who knows maybe it was an eclipse or partial eclipse of the sun. Regardless of what happened Hezekiah received a do over. And here is the good news for all of us in need of redemption. God specializes in taking a broken life and setting it straight again. God is proficient at taking a hopeless situation and infusing it with hope. God is competent at offering perfect love and forgiveness to people who have broken their promises over and over. Our God is the God of second chances and do overs. Use your extra hour well.
Pray we realize the precious gift of time and the precious gift of grace. Pray we take advantage of every opportunity to share Christ’s love. Pray we also learn to sail with the tides. Pray we redeem not just clock time but karios time. Pray we be not just good time managers but also good opportunity managers… Christian entrepreneurs understanding the supreme moment, the fullness of time, when Christ is ready to show up in the flesh as a witness of God’s love. Pray for those who have received do overs.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 