Get back up.
I’ve heard it said that every word we speak is a prayer. Well, if that’s true, we’ve all got some pretty screwed up prayers. Like what, you ask? Like when we size up someone’s entire life with a few words. We never do this to the person sitting next to us, or the one we work with, or someone in our family.
They get a second chance.
But what about the guy with a long list of mistakes, some seasons of foolishness, and an unlikely comeback story, and, oh yeah… fame? It’s too far-fetched. Right?
Enter Mike Tyson. Yeah, I linked his Wikipedia because everyone knows you are the sum total of everything found about you online. But, what if you’re not. What if there are scenes between edits, paragraphs handwritten in the margins, measures unplayed?
You would want everyone to know there’s more to you than that, wouldn’t you? You’re more than an icon of failure. There was a then, but there is most certainly a now.
My prayer for the now season of Mike’s life is blessing. I pray he is blessed with hope and courage to live toward his destiny – something he, with all of his accomplishments and failures, has yet to fully realize.
I pray, most of all, for his hope to come from Jesus Christ. Because of Jesus, there is a between-the-lines hope for all who believe in Him.
Since we have been made right with God by our faith, we have peace with God. This happened through our Lord Jesus Christ, who has brought us into that blessing of God’s grace that we now enjoy. And we are happy because of the hope we have of sharing God’s glory. We also have joy with our troubles, because we know that these troubles produce patience. And patience produces character, and character produces hope. And this hope will never disappoint us, because God has poured out his love to fill our hearts. He gave us his love through the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to us. When we were unable to help ourselves, at the moment of our need, Christ died for us, although we were living against God. Romans 5:1-6 NCV
–
Read more posts from the POTSC #NeverBeyond Poster Series.
It’s so easy to judge. But also so ungodly. We are quick to label a person and/or situation as hopeless, but like Romans 5 says, God is a God of HOPE. Thanks for reminding us to give 2nd, 3rd, 4th (etc!) chances & to pray for those who seem like they need it more (although, if we’re honest, we ALL need God’s grace & hope all the same!). There’s a bigger story… It just may not be known (or written!) yet.
All our stories add to the BIG story! (Or His adds to ours!)
THIS: Because of Jesus, there is a between-the-lines hope for all who believe in Him. is WOW. Thank you for posting this… I don’t want to be a rigid line follower, but judgment forces me into a box while grace is not bound by lines or finite understanding.
Thanks Ashley!
Really good post, Chris! The following is a thought as I read through your post:
The Flip Side
There are also many people that love “the sum total of everything found about them online.” Their social life is pristine, godly, and marked by integrity, honor, and wisdom.
And then there is the private life. It’s too far-fetched, right?
Enter countless pastors, teachers, CEOs, and even your normal, every-day husband, father, and friend. Sometimes we wished that our life totally lined up with the public persona that so many believe to be the truth, the while truth, and nothing but the truth… oh, help us God!
Thankful for second chances!
@sgagne
great post chris…loved reading your thoughts…i loved that line about “being the sum total of everything found out about you online”….and yes i think all of us would love to share more about ourselves than just what is on wikipedia….such great thoughts…loved it!
m
Thanks Mike! Also thank you for creating a venue for this conversation!
“Because of Jesus, there is a between-the-lines hope for all who believe in Him.”
I love this! This is great, and very true! All of us have stuff that we need a second chance for, and only by the grace of God and the blood of Christ can we get it!
Thanks for this post!
Andrew
Thanks for reading Andrew!
Chris, I love this: “What if there are scenes between edits, paragraphs handwritten in the margins, measures unplayed?” I love to think of our lives as a story. One day, our story and God’s story intersect and we are forever changed. Jesus stands at that intersection and as you say, “Because of Jesus, there is a between-the-lines hope for all who believe in Him.” Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Mike! I real appreciate you coming by!