“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”
— Matthew 18: 20-22

Three months ago, a couple of veterans and I were having lunch together. One of them turned to me and asked, “While you were in the service, what was the biggest mistake you made?” That question set me back a bit; I had to think. Fortunately, I had not made any serious mistakes that endangered anyone’s life or limb, but I had to admit there had been mistakes made.

Last week, while reading our Pentecost Prayer Journal, I was reminded of that conversation. Irene Lewis-Wimbley had written about the “reset button.” God uses the reset button of His Grace to remind us that we are forgiven for the times we wander away from His will. We are forgiven today, yesterday, and always. We are forgiven, period. For me, that is an overwhelming gift! I know I am not worthy of God’s Grace. I wander away from God’s will, again and again, and again. But God is a God of second chances, a God of continuing Grace, again, and again, and again. I know that God loves me, in spite of myself. God loves me and welcomes me back whenever I return.

I pray that you will remember that God will welcome you back whenever you wander away. God will welcome you back with God’s unending Love and Grace.

Bob Beck is a lay leader at his church and wrote this for The Chronicle.