Usually, people give you one chance. Maybe two. If you mess up, it’s over. How many times has one error cost you a job? One argument ended a relationship? One crime stained your record? Usually, you get one chance. What if it worked that way with God? That would be terrifying, wouldn’t it? We’ve sinned so many times. If God gave us one chance, our relationship would have been over long ago.
But God isn’t like us. Daniel knew that wonderful truth. He had watched God’s people sin against him over and over again. He watched them be conquered, and he knew they deserved it. But he knew it still wasn’t over, because “the Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him” (Daniel 9:9). Our God is merciful and forgiving—to you too. Even though we’ve rebelled against God again and again, he doesn’t cut us off. He doesn’t toss us to the side. He sent his Son Jesus to die for our sins and rise to give us new life with God. Whatever you’ve done, no matter how many times you’ve sinned, “The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him.”
Comments