Take a Mulligan
Mulligan please? As I was watching the golf channel recently, I was mesmerized by the golf professional’s great skill in playing such a difficult game. Watching golf on television was not entertaining until I started playing the game myself and realized how difficult it is to hit one good shot, not to mention one after another throughout a tournament. Once in awhile you will see a pro hit a bad shot. This is what happened to one professional on his tee shot as his ball veered out of bounds and he was forced to hit another, which went out of bounds again. I then realized “these guys are human!” Laying six off the tee box is a bad day for a pro. A shot like that is common for me, but I will often just take a “mulligan” in my usual informal round of golf. A mulligan is simply a do-over without a penalty, which allows the unfortunate golfer like me to hit another ball without counting my bad shot on the scorecard. This makes golf a strange game because there are not many second chances offered in today’s world.Mulligans of Forgiveness
Jesus tells a parable in Luke 13:1-9 about a fig tree in a man’s vineyard that did not produce fruit in three years. “If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then can cut it down.” This parable is about mulligans. The owner wanted to cut this tree down as it was not productive, but the gardener insisted “one more year.” I can relate with the owner, my patience is not the best, as I want quick results. The gardener wanted to give this tree a few more chances. The Bible is full of stories about a gracious God who grants mulligans through forgiveness. We all sin and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23. Everyone can get a mulligan, by believing in His Son Jesus Christ and washing away their sins through repentance and baptism in His name (Acts 2:38). As Christians, therefore, we need to be thankful that God is a God of mulligans, because we all need a second chance at one time or another in our lives.Take the Shot
Come to think of it, God grants unlimited mulligans for His children who confess their faults and weaknesses, and come to Him for help (1 John 1:7-9). However, the unsettling part of the parable of the fig tree is there are consequences to refusing God’s gracious gifts. We tend to reject consequences. Too many people think that they can do whatever they want, when they want, and not have a sense of accountability to God. Jesus says we have to be accountable. That is why we need that relationship with our Lord and invite others to do the same. Golf offers mulligans, but eventually we have to take the shot. God offers spiritual mulligans, but eventually we have to walk with God. Lord, in Christ we are made new. Thank you that we can look beyond our past straight into the eyes of our loving Savior with the mulligan You so graciously give to us. Amen.— Phil
If you like, check out these Daily DevotionsToday’s Scripture
Luke 13:1-9
Repent or Perish
1 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree
6 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. 7 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 this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ 8 “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”Romans 3:23
The Righteousness of God Through Faith
23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Acts 2:38
Peter’s Sermon at Pentecost
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
1 John 1:7-9
Walking in the Light
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.