Programmed to Fail?
Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father, how I praise You that You can take the pieces of a broken life and restore them again.
Read ROMANS 5:12-21
[12] Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned- [13] for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. [14] Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come. [15] But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! [16] Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. [17] For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. [18] Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. [19] For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. [20] The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, [21] so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Reflect
Who is the "one man" who brought grace to us?A deadly genetic flaw has spread through the human race: brokenness. Among all that’s heroic and admirable, selfishness and meanness persist. It’s not that most people are rotten to the core. It’s that even the best people are not entirely good. Paul calls this sin. When he says sin entered the human race through Adam (12), he’s referring to Adam’s decision to eat forbidden fruit (Gen. 3). I’m using the word broken to express what sin means. None of us are as whole as we long to be.
Brokenness came through one man (Adam), infecting humanity. Wholeness comes through another man (Jesus), healing humanity (18,19). Since believing in Jesus I’ve found a degree of wholeness, the freedom of my sins being forgiven and a sense of peace. I’m not whole yet. I still live with a fair bit of brokenness. Has Jesus failed?
Salvation or wholeness comes in stages. When we believe, we experience the first part. But the full blessing of salvation comes when we go to be with God. That is when all brokenness will finally vanish.
Apply
What do you want to say to God about his restoration process working in your life? Bring it to him now.
Closing prayer
Work within me, O Lord. Do Your loving and gracious, life-restoring work in my life, I pray. I wait for You.
Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.
© 2024 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.
Discovery is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.