Year of Rebound

In basketball, one of the most important skills for the players to have is the ability to rebound. Rebounds occur because a shot somewhere has been missed. And if a shot was missed, that means a shot was attempted, but somehow something went wrong in the attempt. One reason a shot can be missed is that the player was off in his perspective. He was looking at the goal, focused on the goal, but somehow what he saw and what he did didn't match up. He was unable to sink the shot.

Another reason shots are missed is because the opposing team is in the player's face. Sometimes shots are missed because the player is fouled. Now regardless of the reason for the missed shot, any coach would want his player to go up for the rebound of their missed shot. If a player misses a shot, that's not the time to throw up his hands, walk off the court and quit the game, just because he missed one shot. No! A good player will always go back up for the rebound and get the ball back for another shot.

In the Bible, there are lots of people who missed shots. Some were looking at the goal, focused on the goal, but somehow what they saw and what they did didn't match up. Some of these in the Bible missed the shot because the opposition got in their face and distracted them. That's what happened to our first parents Adam and Eve. Satan got in their face and distracted them through temptation. Sometimes, these in the Bible got fouled, through no fault of their own, and they missed the shot. Daniel got thrown into a lion's den for his prayer life, and the three Hebrew children got thrown into the fire because they would not bow down to the golden image of Nebuchadnezzar.

But you can mark it down. All of these had another chance, and the Bible records their rebounds. 2011 may have been a bad year for you. You may have missed some shots. You may have gotten distracted from the goal God has for you in life. Satan may have been in your face the whole year. You may have been fouled. Understand, when you make a stand for God, the Nebuchadnezzars of the world will foul you and throw you into the fire.

You may have just taken some bad shots and blew it. But you can mark it down, God is the God of second chance. 2012 is the year of rebound. 2012 is the second chance to get it right. Just like the loving father in the Prodigal Son story, God is standing with open arms waiting to give you that second chance. Sargent Baptist, this is our year to rebound!

In Christ,

Bro. Royce