READ: Lamentations 3 (Focus vs.16–33)
MEMORY VERSE
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22–23
BACKGROUND
Over the last several decades, a new word has entered our movie vocabulary: reboot. In cinematic parlance, a reboot takes an old story and jumpstarts it.
Some reboots retell a familiar tale, like a superhero story or a fairytale. Other reboots take a lesser-known story and retell it in a new way. But in each case, a reboot is a bit like a do-over. It’s a fresh start, a chance to breathe new life into the old.
There’s another story that involves reboots—the gospel story. In it, Jesus invites us to His offer of forgiveness, as well as abundant and eternal life (John 10:10).
And in the book of Lamentations, Jeremiah reminds us that God’s love for us makes every day a “reboot” of sorts: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (3:22–23).
God’s grace invites us to embrace each day as a fresh opportunity to experience His faithfulness.
Whether we’re struggling with the effects of our own mistakes or going through other hardships, God’s Spirit can breathe forgiveness, new life, and hope into each new day.
Every day is a reboot of sorts, an opportunity to follow the lead of the great Director, who is weaving our story into His bigger one.
By: Adam Holz
INSIGHT
The writer of Lamentations is not named, but Jewish tradition identifies the prophet Jeremiah as its author.
Consisting of five dirges or funeral laments, Jeremiah gives an emotionally charged eyewitness account of the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by the Babylonians in 586 bc (see 2 Kings 25; Jeremiah 52).
Yet amid the devastation and despair, Jeremiah also expressed great hope (Lamentations 3:19–21).
God, who judged rightly their covenantal unfaithfulness, remained the God of unfailing love and compassion (vv. 22, 32–33), the God of faithfulness (v. 23), the God of hope (vv. 24–25), and the God of their salvation (v. 26).
By: K. T. Sim
APPLICATION
How do you think reflecting upon and remembering God’s faithfulness in the midst of trials changes your perspective on them? How has God’s forgiveness and grace brought a reboot to your life?
PR’s (PASTOR RICHARD) TAKE
“When Grace speaks: Laws are rendered irrelevant; Protocols are suspended; Power becomes silent; Condemnation is reversed…” Judith Vundia (Adapted)
PR’s RE-EMPHASIS (From Post)
“God’s love for us makes every day a “reboot” of sorts: …Whether we’re struggling with the effects of our own mistakes or going through other hardships, God’s Spirit can breathe forgiveness, new life, and hope into each new day.”
PRAYER
“Father, thank You that Your grace and forgiveness invite me to start over, fresh, every morning.”
TODAY’s HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL SONG
“MY GRACE IS SUFFICENT FOR THEE” Bruce Frye
When my strength is all gone
And I can’t carry on
He comforts with peace,
From above
With the valley so deep
I trust God’s word to me
My grace is sufficient for thee
My grace is sufficient for thee
For my strength is made
Perfect in weakness,
Gladly therefore,
Will I glory in infirmities
That the pow’r of Christ,
Rests on me
My heart gladly will sing
Of the treasure I seek
As I seek his face day after day
Though the testing seems long
In His grace there’s a song
I long to know him,
Never question His ways
My grace is sufficient for thee
For my strength is made perfect,
In weakness
Gladly therefore
Will I glory in infirmities,
That the pow’r of Christ
Rests on me
(Instrumental)
Gladly therefore,
Will I glory in infirmities….
That the pow’r of Christ rests on me
READING THROUGH THE ENTIRE BIBLE THIS YEAR (DAILY)
Joshua 19-21
Luke 2:25-52
