Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“Since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
NL Daily Devotion for Tuesday, August 31, 2021
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
I’m a bit of a perfectionist. On the whole I’m pretty breezy and go-with-the-flow, but there’s a little part of me that’s terrified that one of these days someone is going to call me out as a fraud. I try to live out my faith, love and serve others, bring something positive into the world, but I feel like it’s not enough. I still hurt people sometimes. I still make questionable choices and clueless blunders.
Paul reminds me that this is just a part of my humanness. All have sinned and fallen short. All. I’m not terminally unique. I’m not alone in my brokenness. Everyone I know and love, everyone I admire and aspire to be like—everyone has missed the mark in some way or another. And God accepts us anyway. God, in Christ Jesus, makes us utterly and completely beautiful and lovable and worthy not because we’ve earned it, but because God loves us. I feel a little giddy just writing that. Because it’s so unbelievable. And so wonderful. And I’m so, so grateful.
Do I need to forgive myself for being human? How can I lean into God’s boundless grace today?