Mulligan of Mercy

Golfers recognize the term "mulligan" because it is often used on the golf course. For those professionals out there, or for those who are golf "snobs", they scoff at the term. But, for those of us who like golf, but need some encouragement to keep coming back, we absolutely love the mulligan! In golf, it basically works like this: there is an agreement made, before the round begins, as to how many mulligans one receives. For example, my pastor friend and I would play and allow for one mulligan on the first tee of each nine holes played; and then an additional mulligan for any shot during that nine holes. So, it basically means that if you hit a bad shot, you can take another shot from the same spot without the first one counting against you. Additionally, when we really needed encouragement, we allowed for the "provisional" mulligan. If you didn't like your mulligan attempt, you could save it and just play off of the first bad ball you hit. It made the game, and the score, a little more bearable. A mulligan means a "do over", another try, attempt; and in the spiritual realm, grace and mercy mixed together.

It is mercy because you deserve a bad score for that horrendous shot, but you receive a mulligan instead. It is grace because you didn't deserve another shot, but received a mulligan anyway. It is a major lesson God has been teaching me, in life, over the past several months. Regardless of your golf status, you ought to love the "mulligan", because it happens to all of us in life. God chooses the amount and timing, but because He is an incredible God of grace and mercy, we experience mulligans "all the time", perhaps without even knowing it. God gives us second chances in ministry, in marriage, in other relationships, at the work place, health related; and in about every other area of life you can think of. There are some consequences, "penalties" for those bad shots, decisions, that we made. But, instead of focusing on our weaknesses and failures, let's do what God does - focus on the mulligan, which indicates another try, another shot, another chance, to make a better shot. So, stop thinking about the last terrible shot you took that landed in the water, the sand, or deep in the woods. Take a deep breath, thank God for another chance, and do your best.

Don't forget, as you experience mulligans of mercy in your life: This is really about the character of God, and our opportunity to thank Him for not holding our sins, our bad shots, against us. He is a God of forgiveness and has already paid the penalty for our slices, hooks, topping the ball, and all the other bad kinds of shots we take in life. Take a moment, as I have most recently, to thank God for all the mulligans of mercy He has offered you. Now go take your best shot to honor Him with your life today.