UNPACK This...Persevering With PurposePrimjer

Getting Back Up When Rhys Hoskins made his major league debut with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2017, the team had the worst record in Major League Baseball. He endured some tough early years, but Hoskins remained with the Phillies long enough to experience playing in the World Series in 2022. Hoskins has had an up-and-down individual journey on the baseball field, as well. Scott Miller wrote an article documenting it on NYtimes.com with the headline, “A Phillies Veteran Perfects the Art of Getting Back Up.” He writes, “Hoskins makes an error, then he smashes a homer. He’s booed, then he’s cheered. He’s up, down, and back up again.” Dave Dombrowski, the Phillies’ President of Baseball Operations, recently said, “I think Rhys Hoskins, in many ways, epitomizes what we are as a club because, at times, he’s had a couple of moments where he’s had miscues in the field, but he bounces back. He’s resilient. He’s tough.” We are all on a journey similar to baseball. Although we experience errors and mistakes, thankfully, we don’t have to remain in our shame or let the miscues leave us defeated. Life doesn’t always go how we want it to, and we don’t hit home runs every at-bat. Yet, as followers of Jesus, we can bounce back because we rely on His perfection, strength, and grace. As a result of Jesus’ work on the cross, we never have to stay down long. In Him, we don’t have to be defeated by sin. His power enables us to keep going even after we miss the mark. 1 John 1:9 explains, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” To experience a turnaround after we stumble, we must confess our sin, repent, and receive His grace as we bounce back. Today, let’s take on the challenge given to us in Matthew 3:8: “Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.” I’m Bryce Johnson, and you can UNPACK that! PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for helping me get back up when I stumble. I’m thankful that, because of Jesus, I don’t have to be defeated by sin. I desire for my life to be fruitful as I move forward, empowered by Your strength and grace. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.