³⁵ So Jesus told all the people to sit down on the ground. ³⁶ Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, thanked God for them, and broke them into pieces. He gave them to the disciples, who distributed the food to the crowd. ³⁷ They all ate as much as they wanted. Afterward, the disciples picked up seven large baskets of leftover food.

Matthew 15:35-37 [NLT]

No, this is not the same passage as the one from chapter 14:14-21. In fact, this is actually the 2^nd time that Jesus decided to perform the same miracle again. Honestly, I don’t know how I could’ve missed out on this story for so long. I mean, I have been reading the Bible for years as a Christian, both when I was still actively in church, and after I left the church. Still, I was genuinely surprised when I read this passage.

As I was reading this passage, I felt like the Holy Spirit is trying to tell me something about my very own situation in life right now. I was also being reminded of the previous two times in my life when God literally touched my life and in just an instant, He turned everything around for me. If that isn’t a miracle, I honestly don’t know what is.

Stop with the Self-Limiting Quotas

So, I’m going to assume something here, and I’m hoping that I’m not entirely wrong about it. I like to think that most of us probably feel the same way about hoping for better things in life, especially after we have failed at something the first time, maybe wasted an opportunity, or took something for granted. I imagine that there can be many different reasons. But the main point being, we become a little afraid to hope/ask/expect that others would give us a second, or a third, or fourth chance. Maybe we feel like we don’t deserve it, even if we know that we really need one. For those of us that feel roughly the same way about this, then you know what it is like to struggle with the idea of a “self-limiting quota”.

I sometimes still struggle with this. As much as I know I need a second chance at something, or a third, I would struggle with this idea that I probably didn’t deserve it because in hindsight, I could’ve done better the first time, or second time around. In fact, it is that self-limited fear that stops us from believing that it is possible for us to get another chance to try again.

Before we can convince others to give us a second, or a third chance, we must first forgive ourselves for what had happened before. We must first give ourselves another chance to try again, before we can convince others to give us another chance too. Though, let’s face it, it is really not that easy to try and convince others for another chance.

Jesus Doesn’t Have a Quota for Performing Miracles

And this is something that still gives me hope today. Reading this passage today is a reminder that Jesus (and God) doesn’t have a quota when it comes to performing a miracle, or giving us (sinners) another chance to try again. So, perhaps it is in that context that I finally understand that just because He has touched my life twice before in the past, it doesn’t mean that He is done with me. It doesn’t mean that He has reached a limit of how He can turn my life around in an instant. This is a reminder that, yes, I can ask God to perform yet another miracle in my life. Yes, I can get another chance to try again. And I am determined to make sure that I never make the same mistakes as I did before. At the very same time, just because I know now that there is no limit to what God can do for me, it doesn’t mean that I should take my second chance for granted, and assume that I will also get a third, or a fourth. But I will instead focus on making the very best of the chance/opportunity that He has given to me, and I will do everything I can possibly can to honor that chance.

Empathy Towards Others

Something else that today’s passage has made me realize as well. Because of my own struggles today, I’ve come to understand that when I have the chance, that I should show other people the same kind of compassion as well. Everybody deserves another chance. We can’t expect that they will not fail again, or that they won’t make mistakes along the way. But we can expect that they will do their very best not to make the same mistakes as before. And that they have learned from their past experiences and know that they have to do better today. Make better choices.

The most important part of this topic is that it is not about what other people will do that determines whether or not we should have empathy and compassion towards them. We should always act with empathy and compassion towards them regardless of what they decide to do with the chances that has been given to them. Ultimately, at the end of the day, we are not the ones to judge their actions. God will judge their actions.

But I ofcourse get it. In the real-world, with many things at stake (depending on the environment and circumstances), we may only be able to give people a few chances and not unlimited chances. I get that too. But hey, don’t just think that everybody only deserves one chance. I am very sure that some day, you might find yourself in a similar position where you would hope that someone else would also give you another chance to try again.

Personal Prayer for Today

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for showing me this passage from Matthew 15:32-38. Thank You for showing me that with You, there is no limit to what You can do and the miracles that You can perform in my life.

I am always so forever grateful for the previous times that You have reached down and touched my life. Within an instant, You were able to turn my entire life around. I mean literally. In just one afternoon, You could perform what can only be described as a miracle.

I want to thank You for showing me that I need to stop this self-limited thinking that I have. Whether I think I’ve done enough to earn it, or if I deserve it, has absolutely nothing to do with Your love for me, and Your willingness to continue touching my life.

There are no limits, or quotas when it comes to Your love for me. So I come before You today, once again a believer, having faith that just like You have touched my life in an instant before, I believe that You can/will do it again. Thank You for giving me another chance.

Finally, I also want to thank You for showing me that because of my own recent struggles and life experiences, that I can take that empathy and compassion and apply it to my future relationships with other people. I get that I can never expect others not to fail, or make mistakes along the way. But I am also a believer now that everybody deserves another chance no matter how badly they had failed before. What they do with that chance is something that I’ll leave to You to judge.

I vow to give You all of the praises. In Jesus’ name I pray.

Amen.