Made any New Year resolutions for 2017? Psychological literature suggests you might as well not bother – only half of all New Year resolutions make it beyond March! It is natural – and right – to resolve to sin no longer, whilst recognising that we are saved by God's grace and not our own efforts. But experience shows that our resolutions to stop sinning (whether made in honour of a new year or not) often come unstuck pretty quickly too. So it is hugely comforting to know that God’s mercy and forgiveness isn’t fickle like our resolve to stop sinning – it is everlasting (Psa 103:11-17).
Read moreA second chance. And a third. And a fourth…
Q: Who is the worst sinner you know?
A: You!
How different life would be if we all believed this! Recognising our sin-prone-ness – and our inability to ‘cure’ ourselves from this condition – is perhaps the fundamental Christian virtue. God offers us as many second chances as we need, provided we are trying to serve him.
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