Aubrey and I played Catan Junior the other day.  She is competitive, so I don’t need to go easy on her.  We were only a few turns into the game and luck was flat out bad for her.  My ships and lairs were piling up and she had nearly nothing.

A downcast, red-faced, despairing look came over her.  There was nothing she could do.  The game was lost already, without even really playing it.  She would burst into helpless tears at any moment.

Out of love, I gave of myself.  I could require her to play the game to its inevitable conclusion or I could provide mercy and begin the game anew.  We cleared the board, and began again.  Of course, giving grace like this is pretty easy for a parent to do.

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This reminds me of our Father’s love for us.  The game was lost for us.  Eve and Adam made a bad play in the Garden of Eden, one that was a game-changer for their future, as well as for every person who would ever live.  But God, with His Father-love, would not sit back and push forward with a rule-following game and watch his downcast children lose.

Out of love, God gives of Himself.  Restarting the game cost Him dearly.  His love generously gives what we don’t deserve, at His cost.  Jesus, God-in-the-flesh, lived among the people he created.  He died on the cross so our sin could be forgiven.  The board is cleared so we can begin again.

Because of Jesus’ resurrection, we are offered another chance, a new life in Him.  We can start the game again because we are forgiven.  The question is, will we accept the gift of a new beginning that God wants to freely offer us?  

This Easter, I hope our hearts re-awaken with amazement at this Good News.  We can become overly familiar with the gospel.  It can become a story that we take for granted.  We lose the wonder of this gift.  Jesus death and resurrection are the source of real life and hope for our daily life!

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”  ~John 3:16 (NLT)

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Now, going back to Aubrey’s and my game of Catan Junior, can you guess what happened?  Who won the second time?

It was a very close game, and of course – it was Aubrey!

How does the Good News of Jesus’ death and resurrection make a difference in your daily life?  Is your heart awake to how amazing the gospel is? 

Try reading one of these passages with an attitude of wide-eyed wonder at the gift God has given us in Christ:  Ephesians 2:1-10 or Colossians 2:6-15.

Kathryn Featherstone is a certified Christian Life Coach by the Board of Christian Life Coaches.  She is trained by Gallup for coaching with CliftonStrengths assessment and resources.  She’d like to encourage you in your journey!  Write her a note or visit her Coaching page.