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Jul 31, 2024 06:00am

Second Chances

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“Amanda, first base. Kayla, short stop. Yalanda, left field.”

Left field?

That was new to me. Usually I played the infield but, okay. I was game for anything.

I didn’t play softball until the summer after 9th grade. It was hard for us to to practice or to catch the bus to games since mom worked nights. But when my sister, who is two years older than me, got a car, we were finally able to take part in more activities.

I loved softball. And I was as confident as they come.

Left field? Okay! And in my mind, I knew I was the best choice to play that position.

Until the first pop fly came my way.

The girl stepped up to bat and immediately, we knew she was going to be a heavy hitter. The outfielders backed up and we were ready.

“CRACK”! The sound of the ball hitting the bat sounded through the park. Sure enough, it was a pop fly and it was coming straight to me.

No problem.

I got a little running start and had my glove up, ready to catch it. I could already feel it in my glove.

And then,

Maybe it was the sun in my eyes. Yes, that’s it. I must have lost the ball during that time. Or it could have been the wind that suddenly picked up and a gust had caused it to veer off course.

I reached out my glove and felt it…

It caught the edge of my mitt and dropped to the ground.

Shock. Confusion. Fear. Anxiety. It all began to flood through me. My confidence… no wait, my arrogance, had cost us.

I grabbed it and threw it as hard and as far as I could.

I had failed.

I had let my team down. My coach. But no one more than myself.

I wanted to run and hide. I wanted to throw down my glove and run.

But I couldn’t. I was a part of this team and I was there because I loved the game. Mistakes happen. I knew that. And I also knew, this wasn’t the last time a pop fly would come my way.

Within just two more hitters, there it was. My chance at redemption. And this time, I would not fail.

Acts 3:11-20
“While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade.
12 When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?
13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go.
14 You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you.
15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.
16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.
17 “Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders.
18 But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer.
19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,
20 and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus.”

Remember what happened right before this passage?

Peter and John, through the power of the Holy Spirit, healed a lame man that was lying at the gate to the Temple. There was a huge crowd gathered and they saw this miracle occur. They were amazed at what had just happened and saw this man running and jumping as he had never in his life done before!

He was holding onto Peter and John in amazement, excitement, gratitude and maybe because he was so shocked himself he could have fainted!

The crowd looked to John and Peter. They were astounded. They were baffled. They wanted to know what happened and who brought about this miracle.

And Peter saw his chance at redemption.

Peter. Remember him? The one who was so confident, and maybe a little arrogant, that he would follow his Lord anywhere. And then when the time came and he was tested, he denied Jesus 3 times, just as Jesus said he would.

Of all people, Peter could have thrown in the towel, given up and said that’s it! I’m done. I can’t do this.

But when the opportunity was made available again, Peter took it.

He shared with the large crowd that it was the power of God that healed this man. He clearly told them who Jesus was, how they had rejected and crucified Him, what that meant for them, and what they needed to do to be saved.

Have you missed an opportunity before? Have you messed up and wish you could have a do over?

We all have! We all make mistakes. We could quit, we could be done with all this, but why did we start in the beginning? It’s because we love Him. Jesus saved us and we want to share it with others so that they can be saved too!

Today, the Lord is giving us another opportunity. He has given us a brand new day. A day filled with people who need to hear about the hope we have in Jesus. About His unconditional love and forgiveness. About the extremes that He went to so that they could be saved.

God has given us another shot. Will you use it?

Don’t make excuses. We have none that are good enough! Peter, of all people, could have made the best excuses, but he chose to share the name of Jesus with the crowd. And it’s because of it that the gospel was spread, and eventually made it all the way to your ears and heart.

Need help?

Go to follow.lifeword.org. It’s a simple, self-guided tool we can use to learn what it means to become a follower of Christ and show others to do the same.

Here’s your chance. Share the gospel. Make disciples.