Driving home from school one day I noticed a car on the side of the road which appeared to be broken down. There was a lady standing next to it feeding a young baby while on the phone. As I pulled over, I noticed that her tyre was flat. She was in need of some help! She couldn’t contact her husband and didn’t have a spare in the boot. After removing her tyre, I drove to a tyre place to get a new one fitted.
On my way back to the lady, I turned up Blacks road, only to be pulled over by the South Australian Police service. My heart sank as the officer approached my car. He proceeded to inform me that I had be clocked doing just over the 50km/h speed limit. Many thoughts raced through my mind, including thinking that if I hadn’t offered to get a new tyre for this lady, I wouldn’t now be sitting on the side of the road in a wash of red and blue lights.
While the policeman checked my details in his car, I mentally prepared myself for the impending fine. When he returned to my window, he said “You are just being issued with a caution today.”
I had been given a second chance! I held in my elation and politely thanked him for his grace. It was nothing that I had done which had got me let off with a caution. It was by grace alone that I received a second chance.

Have you ever been given a second chance from someone? How does it make you feel? There are so many examples throughout the Bible of people being given a second chance.
• Moses was given a second chance. He and all the Jewish baby boys were condemned to death by the Pharaoh, but God spared his life.
• Zacchaeus was a dishonest tax collector but when Jesus came to town, He chose to stay with Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus got his second chance.
• One of the greatest second chances was that of the thief hanging next to Jesus on the cross. Before he died, he asked Jesus for mercy. This simple act of faith, this humble request was heard and answered as Christ promised him a second chance in eternity.

You and I also get a second chance because God was willing to give it to everyone who chooses to accept it. What an amazing gift of grace.

Have a great week,

Chaplain Phil