The Healing Jesus: An Advent Devotional to Encourage Anybody and EverybodySample

JUDE: THE ONE WHO GOT A SECOND CHANCE

I am Jude, Jesus's brother. No, really, like an actual blood-relation brother. Which means I have known Jesus longer than anyone else. I wish I could say that I have also followed him the longest or that I was part of the original twelve who followed him, but unfortunately, that was not the case.

I'm ashamed to admit that it took me a while. You see, he was the real deal. It wasn't until I got a second chance to follow him that I finally got it. I had a lot of pride to swallow. It was humbling to live with someone that good. Thankfully, Jesus never gave up on me.

Because of his faithfulness, I can now proudly call myself a missionary and teacher of the gospel. I call out false teachers who try to confuse and control the churches that we started. They don't care about people; they want you to feel guilty. But that is not the message of Jesus. I want people to see that they have a second chance, just like I did. Jesus was faithful to me when I couldn't see him for who he was.

He didn't just give me a second chance; he gave the whole world a second chance. Maybe, like me, you have known Jesus your entire life. You knew believing in him would get you to heaven, so in other words, he was your Savior. But was he really who you based your whole life on? Was he the love of your life? Did you see him as a best friend or someone who always made you feel guilty or bad about yourself?

Or perhaps you are like the brand-new church distracted by false prophets, and you aren't sure if Jesus will come through for you. I can tell you with confidence he will come through for you. And he doesn't just give second chances; he gives 70x7 chances. You do the math! But seriously, his love is unlimited, and there's nowhere you can go that he will not come to get you.

I don't just feel like Jesus is my brother, although I still brag about that to this day. I can barely wrap my head around it: my second chance at life. I am so grateful to be the disciple of second chances, for me and for everyone I meet.

Jesus is healing relationships and will never give up on you.

Questions for Talk it Over:

1. What would you think kept Jude from following Jesus at first?

2. When have you been given a second chance?

3. Who in your life can you give a second chance to?