Pause

By God’s grace, just as you are:

You are here.

You are known.

You are loved.

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Listen

Again, I will build you up, and you will be rebuilt, virgin Israel. Again, you will play your tambourines and dance with joy. Again, you will plant vineyards on the hills of Samaria; farmers will plant and then enjoy the harvests. The time will come when the watchmen shout from the highlands of Ephraim: “Get ready! We’re going up to Zion to the Lord our God!” The Lord proclaims: Sing joyfully for the people of Jacob; shout for the leading nation. Raise your voices with praise and call out: “The Lord has saved his people, the remaining few in Israel!”

Jeremiah 31:4-7

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Think

Regardless of which basketball team you are for, it’s hard not to cheer for the person in the contest at halftime. You know, the one where they have to shoot the ball from half-court? If they make it, they get chicken sandwiches for the rest of their life. That person gets one shot.

So much of our lives together can feel like we get one shot. We only get one shot to convince someone that we are worth choosing, one shot to pick the right thing, one shot to live out our dream.

But in our verses today, there is this word “again.” We read it three times in two verses. To live in God’s love is to live in the “again.” Again, as in, we get another shot. That’s not because we earned it. Rather, it’s because God’s love makes it possible for us to try again, go again, live again.

Tasha Gibson

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Pray

Risen Lord, we praise you for your love that grants us another chance again and again. Help us not take your grace and mercy for granted. But instead, help us love those we encounter today. Amen.

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Go

Before you knew it, you were loved. Now, let the love of God help you live like you are loved today.