God's Second Chances

God gives second chances through His incredible patience and love, as illustrated in the parable of the fig tree where a caretaker pleads for one more year to nurture a fruitless plant. Like that caretaker, God refuses to give up on us even when we feel spiritually unproductive, seeing value in us and working to restore us.

• The parable in Luke 13:6-9 shows God's patience with those who aren't bearing spiritual fruit
• Sin causes many to be spiritually fruitless and dead
• God, like the vineyard caretaker, sees potential in us when others might give up
• 2 Peter 3:9 confirms God's patience comes from His desire that everyone find salvation
• God values us even when we're not producing anything worthwhile
• We should consider who in our lives might need a second chance

Father, we thank you that you don't give up on us. We thank you for salvation and that when we sin against you, Jesus died to give us the second chance we need. You see value in us even when we produce nothing. Help us accept that second chances have been provided to us. In Jesus' name, amen.

Chapters

• 0:45 Introduction to Second Chances
• 0:54 The Fig Tree Parable
• 1:41 God's Patience Explained
• 2:06 Value Despite Fruitlessness
• 3:13 Closing Prayer

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:31

Boys and girls, moms and dads, I'm so excited you decided to join me today in listening to this podcast.

Speaker 1: 0:37

I'm going to talk to you today about how God gives us second chances. In the book of Luke, chapter 13, starting with verse 6 and following through verse 9, the Bible says Then he told this parable. A man had a fig tree growing in the vineyard and he went to look for the fruit on it, but didn't find any. Verse 7 says so. He said to the man who took care of the vineyard. For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on the spig tree and haven't found anything. Cut it down. Why should it use up the soil, sir? The man replied leave it alone for one more year and I'll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine. If not, then cut it down. We're going to look also in 2 Peter 3, verse 9, where the Bible says the Lord is not slow in keeping his promises, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Speaker 1: 1:48

Boys and girls, moms and dads, I am talking to you about second chances. God is readily available to answer the prayer of a sinner, a prayer of someone that has stepped away from him, and we need to realize that sin has caused many to be fruitless. Sin has caused many to be dead and unspiritually alive. But this is not what the Lord has for you. He is the God of second chances and, like the caretaker we find in the story of the fig tree, he refuses to give up on you. Even when it seems like you have done no good and you're using up resources, god looks at you and sees something beautiful.

Speaker 1: 2:36

My question to you today is is there anyone you know who needs a second chance? Perhaps in your relationships, perhaps in life? Maybe, in fact, you are in need of a second chance and I believe today we can pray and the Lord will give you that second chance. Let's pray together. Father, lord, we come to you and we thank you that you do not give up on us. We thank you for the gift of salvation. We thank you, lord, that when we do things we shouldn't do and sin against you, that there is an advocate in Jesus died on the cross to give us the second chance that we need in this life to see heaven one day. You see value in me. You see value in them. When I am producing nothing, you still see value. Lord, help us to accept the fact that second chances have been provided to us. I give you praise in the name of Jesus, amen.