Psalm 116 : 8-14 (NKJV)

8 For You have delivered my soul from death,My eyes from tears,And my feet from falling.9 I will walk before the LordIn the land of the living.10 I believed, therefore I spoke,“I am greatly afflicted.”

Psalm 116 : 8-14 (NKJV)

11 I said in my haste,“All men are liars.”12 What shall I render to the LordFor all His benefits toward me?13 I will take up the cup of salvation,And call upon the name of the Lord.14 I will pay my vows to the LordNow in the presence of all His people.

A Second Chance

Psalm 116:8-14

A Second ChanceOn Sept. 3, 2009, a nationally televised game was played between the University of Oregon and Boise State University

LeGarrette Blount was upset with his individual and team’s performance that night

A very ugly incident occurred that would change his life…

A Second ChanceHowever, Blount was reinstated to the team and was able to play in the last game of the season, scoring a touchdown

He expressed his thankfulness to his coach for showing that he “cares enough to offer me this second chance” and that it was up to him to “prove to people that their lasting impressions of me are not what they saw in Boise”

A Second ChanceBlount understands the importance and value of a second chance in life

In fact, everyone in this room should understand that as well

We are here today and can smile because we have been blessed with a second chance by God

A Second ChanceThe Bible gives us an account of a second chance of a different sort

I believe what we make of our second chance says a lot about us

David was determined to make the most of his second chance in life, and so should we with the second chance we get spiritually

A Second Chance1. “I will walk before the Lord” (v. 9)

One of the first things that David vowed to do with his second chance is to walk before the Lord

David had purposed in his heart that he would live right before God, in his service

It seems as though it did something to renew his resolve and strengthen his commitment

A Second Chance1. “I will walk before the Lord” (v. 9)

God told Abram in Gen. 17:1 – “walk before Me and be blameless”

The idea of walking before God is living right before His eyes

That’s what being a Christian is all about!

That’s what having a second chance is all about!

A Second Chance1. “I will walk before the Lord” (v. 9)

Rom. 6:1 – “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?”

The answer – “Certainly not!”

When you are given a second chance you don’t do what you did before

II Cor. 5:17 – “…if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation…”

A Second Chance2. “I will take up the cup of salvation” (v. 13)

David says one thing that he will do since the Lord had benefited him was to take up the cup of salvation

Many agree that what David was going to do was to have a special public ceremony to express his thankfulness to God for that salvation

A Second Chance2. “I will take up the cup of salvation” (v. 13)

What David was doing was telling everyone he could about how great the Lord was and the salvation that God extended to him

That is really a modern day equivalent to what Jesus wants us to do with our salvation (Matt. 28:19-10; Mk. 16:15)

A Second Chance2. “I will take up the cup of salvation” (v. 13)

Many who were healed in Bible times ran to tell others of what Christ did for them

Both Jeremiah in the Old Testament (Jer. 20:9) and Paul in the New Testament (I Cor. 9:16) stated that they could not keep from telling others about the gospel

A Second Chance2. “I will take up the cup of salvation” (v. 13)

When given a second chance at eternity, we ought to want to tell any and everyone we know about that opportunity

Remember, it’s an offer that is extended to everyone who is willing to comply with His will

A Second Chance3. “I will pay my vows to the Lord” (v. 14)

David was intent on being a man of his word

There were certainly some vows that David had made to God

Those were done in secret, but David would pay in the presence of all

We are not required to make vows, but if we do we better keep them

A Second Chance3. “I will pay my vows to the Lord” (v. 14)

How many times have we found ourselves in a tough situation and we have made some promise to God?

We better keep our vows that we make to God

Ecc. 5:1-6

A Second Chance3. “I will pay my vows to the Lord” (v. 14)

Matt. 5:37 – Jesus said let your “‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’, and your ‘No’, ‘No’”

If you say you are going to do something, then do it

If you don’t intend on doing it, then do not make the vow (Js. 5:12)