The New England Patriots have an uncanny ability to get the most out of their players. Whether the players are castoffs from other teams or changing positions or coming from small schools, they know how to maximize all of their abilities.

Whenever the Patriots make a trade, we instantly assume they won the deal and know something the rest of the league doesn’t. Before this year’s draft, the Carolina Panthers sent defensive end, Kony Ealy, and a 3rd round pick to the Patriots for a second round pick, and we figured Ealy would be a great addition to the Patriots.

But just after few months with the team, the Patriots have released Ealy with Bill Belichick giving this explanation: “It’s just one of those things that didn’t work out or wasn’t going to work out.”

The Patriots realized they made a mistake, so they quickly moved on by letting him go.

I appreciate the fact that Belichick wasn’t going to let a mistake lead to another mistake. If they kept Ealy when they knew he wasn’t the answer (just because they recently traded for him), their initial mistake would have compounded.

Many stubborn coaches and general managers do this all the time. Instead of admitting they blew it, they keep a player they shouldn’t, and this only causes more problems in the team’s future.

This has a valuable lesson that we can apply to our own lives. There will be times when we blow it, but instead of allowing the mistakes to lead to others, we need to stop, confess, and move forward in the right direction.

If we remain stubborn, filled with shame, and in denial, we’re not resting in the grace and forgiveness that Jesus offers us. The answer to sin is not more sin!

If we try to keep our sin hidden, the sin can compound into more sin and lead us down a dark path. Instead, we must humble ourselves, run to the cross of Christ, and let go of the sin in our lives. We shouldn’t let sin take over our lives, but address it right away and not allow it to fester.

We can be encouraged by the words in Romans 6:12-14 (NLT) that tell us we are released into freedom because of Jesus…and that we no longer have to hold onto our mistakes and be trapped by our sin:

“Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life.

“So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.”

Seeing how Belichick has moved on from his mistake, let’s be challenged to recognize the sin that needs to be released and confessed in our lives, so that we can move forward in grace and forgiveness.

Today, let’s rely on God’s strength…stopping the sin before it leads to more sin.

I’m Bryce Johnson and you can unpack that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please convict me of any sin in my life that I need to confess. Give me the strength to let go of the grip it has on me, so that I can experience the freedom found in Jesus. I desire to do what is right for Your glory. Thank you for Your grace and the forgiveness You show me. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.