For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Romans 3:23
It has been said that human beings are born searching. Unfortunately for many, their search leads them down the wrong direction toward popularity, wealth, or career success. Of course, we know that each of those things will ultimately leave them empty because these things cannot satisfy them. Scripture teaches that what every person is really searching for is peace with God. You see, from the moment sin came into the world, it infiltrated everything and disrupted the perfect relationship between God and humanity. The good news, the best news, that we have to hold on to is that God, in His kindness, offers forgiveness and hope for all who turn to Him.
We learn about the sin problem that disrupted the perfect relationship between God and humanity in Genesis 3. Adam and Eve, the first people created, lived in a perfect garden called Eden, where they talked with God and God walked among them. It was, in a word, paradise. Everything changed in Genesis 3 when Adam and Eve chose to sin. You see, God gave one piece of instruction in Genesis 2: “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden—except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die” (verses 16-17). That was the one rule Adam and Eve were to follow as they lived in the garden. In Genesis 3, Satan came to Eve in the form of a serpent and convinced her to eat it. Next, Eve convinced Adam to eat fruit from that tree. Their act of disobedience introduced sin into the world and changed the course of history.
Sin has devastating impacts; the very worst of all is that it broke the perfection relationship between humanity and our holy God. Paul explains it this way in Romans 3:23, “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” Our sin separates us from God because we will always fall short of God's standard: holiness. Praise God that He did something to bridge the gap between God and us caused by sin. Paul continued writing, “Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins” (verse 24). God sent Jesus at just the right time to pay the price for our sins and free us from sin, making us right with God.
Because of Jesus, we can have peace with God. When we place our faith in Him, our relationships with God are restored, and we have the guarantee of eternal life with Him forever one day. This, my friends, is the peace that every single person is searching for.
Who do you know who needs the hope and peace that only Christ can bring? Spend a few moments praying for them. Pray that God would get their attention and that they would come to place their faith in Him. Pray for opportunities to have intentional conversations with them about faith in Christ. Be prepared to have these conversations when they come!
Prayer Prompt: Use this prompt to guide you as you pray.
“God, as I seek to make You known, guide me…”
Romans 3:1-31
1Then what’s the advantage of being a Jew? Is there any value in the ceremony of circumcision? 2 Yes, there are great benefits! First of all, the Jews were entrusted with the whole revelation of God.
3 True, some of them were unfaithful; but just because they were unfaithful, does that mean God will be unfaithful? 4 Of course not! Even if everyone else is a liar, God is true. As the Scriptures say about him,
“You will be proved right in what you say, and you will win your case in court.”
5 “But,” some might say, “our sinfulness serves a good purpose, for it helps people see how righteous God is. Isn’t it unfair, then, for him to punish us?” (This is merely a human point of view.) 6 Of course not! If God were not entirely fair, how would he be qualified to judge the world? 7 “But,” someone might still argue, “how can God condemn me as a sinner if my dishonesty highlights his truthfulness and brings him more glory?” 8 And some people even slander us by claiming that we say, “The more we sin, the better it is!” Those who say such things deserve to be condemned.
9 Well then, should we conclude that we Jews are better than others? No, not at all, for we have already shown that all people, whether Jews or Gentiles, are under the power of sin. 10 As the Scriptures say,
“No one is righteous— not even one. 11 No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. 12 All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one.” 13 “Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave. Their tongues are filled with lies.” “Snake venom drips from their lips.” 14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” 15 “They rush to commit murder. 16 Destruction and misery always follow them. 17 They don’t know where to find peace.” 18 “They have no fear of God at all.”
19 Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. 20 For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.
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