Captain John Callender of the Massachusetts militia was found guilty of cowardice at the Battle of Bunker Hill. George Washington had to order his court martial. Callender re enlisted in the army as a private, and at the Battle of Long Island exhibited such conspicuous courage that Washington publicly revoked the sentence and restored his captaincy.
It is the same way in the Lord's army. We can start over. We may feel that our actions and deeds are such that seeking to live for Jesus is useless. We try and then stumble. We make an effort and then do something that seems to blot out that effort, and we want to simply quit. But it is not too late to start over. One benefit of forgiveness is the starting over principle. John said in 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Peter was one who went to sleep when the Lord needed him, denied the Lord, and followed him from a distance. Yet in the beginning of the church, who preached the first sermon? Who was a strong leader among the Lord's disciples in the early history of the church? It was Peter! For many of us, to have failed Jesus as often as Peter did, we would have said we can't start again. But Peter demonstrates that we can try again and succeed.
Each new day is an opportunity to start over. The sight of the rising sun is a beautiful reminder that we have a new and marvelous beginning ahead of us. It is an opportunity to overcome the mistakes and wrong doing of yesterday and be a better person today. Don't get discouraged when you do not live up to the goals you set. It is not too late to start over.
- Steve Boyd; via The Encourager, the weekly bulletin for the Dongola church of Christ, Dongola, IL. Gerald Cowan serves the congregation as minister. He may be contacted at Geraldcowan1931@aol.com
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