Everyone needs a do-over. In golf, it's called a mulligan shot, defined as "A golf shot not tallied against the score, granted in informal play after a poor shot especially from the tee."
It's not just golfers who need an occasional mulligan shot. We all are desperately in need of one.
"Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil, Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow. "Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool." (Isaiah 1:16-18)
God's "do-over", or mulligan shot, is a call to revisit attitude and behavior. Step back from disobedient and impure activity and attitudes. Practice that which is good. Defend and assist the downtrodden; orphans and widows in particular. Sit down with God and renegotiate. Reconsider His gracious offer.
A word often used in the Bible, and much neglected in emphasis, is the word, "repent". It is the quintessential "do-over" word. Rethink everything you thought you knew. In humility, consider the error of yours ways and thinking. Reorient your life and mindset around what God clearly shows you to be right. And, bear "the fruits of repentance" (Luke 3:8) - complimentary actions consistent with a change of mind and heart.
We daily need a "do-over". Bad attitudes and behavior will rear their ugly heads, no matter how we determine otherwise. We will say or do something wrong or regrettable this day, no matter how 'spiritual' we are. According to 1 John 1.9, a gracious offer is extended to us to confess and "come clean". But, verses 6-8 also implore us to be honest about our true condition, and pursue a path consistent with our profession of faith. A "do-over" is to be coupled with a true new direction.
You'll never find a better offer than what God puts on the table when He invites us to sit down and reason with Him (Isaiah 6.18). We do well to sit down and negotiate with Him, and find the liberation of forgiveness, and a Spirit-enabled new direction.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2012
It's not just golfers who need an occasional mulligan shot. We all are desperately in need of one.
"Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil, Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow. "Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool." (Isaiah 1:16-18)
God's "do-over", or mulligan shot, is a call to revisit attitude and behavior. Step back from disobedient and impure activity and attitudes. Practice that which is good. Defend and assist the downtrodden; orphans and widows in particular. Sit down with God and renegotiate. Reconsider His gracious offer.
A word often used in the Bible, and much neglected in emphasis, is the word, "repent". It is the quintessential "do-over" word. Rethink everything you thought you knew. In humility, consider the error of yours ways and thinking. Reorient your life and mindset around what God clearly shows you to be right. And, bear "the fruits of repentance" (Luke 3:8) - complimentary actions consistent with a change of mind and heart.
We daily need a "do-over". Bad attitudes and behavior will rear their ugly heads, no matter how we determine otherwise. We will say or do something wrong or regrettable this day, no matter how 'spiritual' we are. According to 1 John 1.9, a gracious offer is extended to us to confess and "come clean". But, verses 6-8 also implore us to be honest about our true condition, and pursue a path consistent with our profession of faith. A "do-over" is to be coupled with a true new direction.
You'll never find a better offer than what God puts on the table when He invites us to sit down and reason with Him (Isaiah 6.18). We do well to sit down and negotiate with Him, and find the liberation of forgiveness, and a Spirit-enabled new direction.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2012
posted by steve @ 9:01 AM
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