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Bible Readings: Romans 3:19-26; Psalm 106:6-15

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.   Romans 3:23-24

We have sinned, even as our ancestors did;
    we have done wrong and acted wickedly.
When our ancestors were in Egypt,

    they gave no thought to your miracles;
they did not remember your many kindnesses,
    and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea.    Psalm 106:6-7

 

We see it woven throughout history.  We see it in our children.  We see it in ourselves if we have any self-awareness at all.  Threads of rebellion are woven deeply into the fabric of our existence. From humanities defiance of God in the first garden to our own stubbornness which says, “I know better, so I will do it my way!”  We have always tended to stray from the ways of God. 

Psalm 106 reminds us of the rebellious acts of the Israelites, a people chosen by God, yet prone to forget His goodness and wander into sin.  Despite their rebellion, God remained steadfast in His love, showing mercy time and time again. In their moments of doubt and disobedience, God's grace shone brightly. 

Yet he saved them for his name’s sake,
    to make his mighty power known.  Psalm 106:8

Romans 3 paints a broader picture of humanity's condition, declaring that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Yet, in the midst of our rebellion, God demonstrates His love and faithfulness “through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24). 

We all are prone to rebellion yet recipients of God’s grace. We, like the Israelites, often stumble and stray from God's path. We fail to live up to His standards and fall short of His glory. Yet, in His infinite mercy, God extends grace to us through Jesus Christ.

Our salvation is not dependent on our own righteousness. It is a gift freely given by a loving God who longs to reconcile us to Himself. May we humbly acknowledge our need for His grace and respond with hearts filled with gratitude and praise. And may we, in turn, extend that same grace to others, demonstrating the deep love of our Heavenly Father to a world in desperate need of redemption.