The Mulligan

Happy Sunday! Have you ever heard of a mulligan? It's a phrase from the World of Golf. A mulligan is a second chance among friends. If you hit a bad shot, you're allowed to ad do over in some circles.

Today I'm thank thank ful for Spiritual Second Chances. Scripture is clear. Romans 3:23 says, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." We all need Mulligans.

In the book of 2 Samuel, we learn about a dark time in the life of King David. David took the wife of another man. He had an affair with a woman named baath Sheba. She was the wife of one of his soldiers, a man named Uriah. Bath Sheba became pregnant from her time with David.

So what did David do? He sent Uriah on a suicide mission to a very fierce battle. Uriah was killed, just as David had planned. David thought he was in the clear after uriah's death. He was wrong.

Chapter 11 ends with these words: "The thing David had done displeased the Lord." In chapter 12 of 2 Samuel, God sent a prophet named Nathan to confront David. David was guilty. God had done so much for David. As a boy, David killed Goliath; as a man, he'd become the king of Israel.

And now David, this great man, needed Revival. While there were horrible consequences to this time in David's life, he was revived. As you likely know, David wrote many of the books in Psalms. He wrote of this chapter in his life in Psalm chapter 51.

In verses 3 and 4, David wrote, "For I know my transgression, and my sin is ever before me. Against you alone have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are justified in your sentence and blameless when you pass judgment." Here David admits that he needs help. That's what we talked about last week. He humbled himself. That's a beginning, and now he's praying.

Psalm 91 is a beautiful prayer asking for Revival. David prays, "Create in me a clean heart, oh God, and put a new and right Spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a right Spirit." David's prayer was answered. He was forgiven. He was revived.

Through the years, I've seen so many people fail and get back up again. My friend Bob (that's not his real name), my friend Bob was retired when I met him. He was at the church every time the doors opened. He became a good friend and a great helper. Anything I needed, Bob would do. He was a joy to be around.

One day, after knowing Bob for years, he wanted to talk. He told me of his past, and I was shocked. In days past, Bob had been basically the town drunk, cheated on his wife, spent time in jail. He'd fight at the drop of a hat. And Bob told me that he had become a Christian at a young age, but he had wandered away.

Bob received lots of Mulligans in his time. Had he not told me, I would have never known about his sorted past. Bob, to me, was living proof of the power of God, and he always gave God credit for his second chance.

I've known Tina (not her real name) all of my life. As a youth, she was messed up. Drugs kept her High through most of her teen years. Alcohol was swallowed by the gallon, and she even ended up in jail for stealing. It's amazing that she lived past 20.

Today she's happily married and very successful. She loves Jesus and loves to tell others about the goodness of God. She became a Christian early on but wandered away, and her Mulligans have been many. Thank God for Mulligans.

This week I've prayed for a man that needs a big Mulligan. The problem is, he doesn't even know he needs one. He's not humbled himself. He has no clue that his life is a train wreck. Today I'm thankful for those who wait wake up and see the error of their ways and see that Jesus is the answer.

Do you need a second chance? God's just a prayer away. He wants for all of us to grow closer to him day by day. Do you know someone that needs a mulligan? I'd encourage you to pray for that person, that God would create in them a clean heart.

Pray with me. God, thank you for not turning us away, for not giving up on us, for your patience and your unfailing love. Help us to understand it and to want to accept it and live according to your plan for our lives. Father, help us in our personal Revival. Create in us a clean heart. In Jesus name we pray, amen.

God bless. Have a great week.