“And Jesus stopped and said, ‘Call him.’ And they called the blind man, saying to him, ‘Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.’” Mark 10:49 (ESV)

I messed up. Quick, thoughtless words flew out of my mouth and hurt my daughter.

I could see it written all over her face. Her shoulders sagged, her face grew long, and her eyes filled with tears. I cringed inside and sighed, feeling disappointed in myself. My daughter was hurt, and I felt like a failure as a mom.

I began to condemn myself … but then I remembered Jesus handling a similar situation. The end of Mark 10 tells the story of Bartimaeus, who was blind and sat by the roadside asking for support from passersby. Jesus was walking on the road with a crowd of people when Bartimaeus heard Jesus was passing by.

Bartimaeus cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Mark 10:47, NIV).

The crowd of people with Jesus reacted by shushing Bartimaeus, sternly telling him to be quiet! But Jesus stopped walking. He heard the commotion, heard Bartimaeus’ cries for mercy, and also heard the nasty response of the crowd.

It is Jesus’ response to the unkind crowd that moves me: Jesus said to them, “Call him” (Mark 10:49).

With two words, Jesus offered grace. Jesus could have walked over to Bartimaeus or reprimanded the crowd for their pitiless response to someone in need. Instead, Jesus, in His wisdom and love, didn’t scold them but gave them what they needed most: an experience of grace rather than condemnation, a chance to try again to show love to their neighbor. With these simple words, Jesus offered the grace-filled gift of a do-over.

Notice the attitude transformation of the crowd when they were offered a chance to do it over! The same people who were heartlessly trying to silence Bartimaeus’ pleas now said to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you” (Mark 10:49). The words the crowd spoke this time were encouraging and helpful, delivering the sweetest message: Jesus is calling you.

Had they succeeded in shushing him, the crowd’s initial response might have kept Bartimaeus in a life of blindness. Accepting Jesus’ grace-filled do-over allowed them to lead a blind man to Jesus. To a miracle. To a new life.

What might it mean if you were willing to accept the grace-filled gift of a do-over? What healing might it bring to your heart or another’s?

Friend, instead of berating ourselves for our mistakes, let’s remember Jesus didn’t scold the crowd — He offered them grace. He does the same for us. He loves us and gently invites us to try again to offer love to one another.

I knew instantly that my words to my daughter were unkind and uncaring. So I accepted Jesus’ grace-filled gift of a do-over. I went to my daughter and apologized for what I had said. I told her what I should have said instead, words to care for her heart, build her up and show her love.

A do-over is a grace-filled gift from Jesus.

God, You first gave grace to us. Help us to accept this grace, to walk daily in this grace, and to extend this grace to others as You continue to transform our lives into the likeness of Jesus. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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Today’s devotion writer, Amy White, is a member of COMPEL Writers Training. You can find writing tips, inspiration and community when you follow COMPEL on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

FOR DEEPER STUDY

Colossians 3:8-10, “But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.” (ESV)

Being renewed is a continuous renovation process accomplished by the Holy Spirit working in our lives. How can you allow the Holy Spirit to renovate your heart with a grace-filled do-over today? Or do you have a grace-filled-do-over story to share? We'd love to hear from you in the comments!

© 2023 by Amy White. All rights reserved.