1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:13,560 Speaker 1: Life Audio. Welcome to the Crosswalk devotional. We're glad to 2 00:00:13,600 --> 00:00:18,000 Speaker 1: have you listening with us. Today's topic is Falling Short. 3 00:00:19,079 --> 00:00:21,760 Speaker 1: We'll return with the devotional after a brief message from 4 00:00:21,760 --> 00:00:39,320 Speaker 1: our sponsors. Falling Short written and read by Megan J. 5 00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:43,519 Speaker 1: Connor For all have sinned and fallen short of the 6 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:48,240 Speaker 1: Glory of God Romans three twenty three, New King James version. 7 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:51,480 Speaker 1: Have you ever said something you wished you could take 8 00:00:51,560 --> 00:00:55,160 Speaker 1: back or decided to go against that still small voice 9 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:57,600 Speaker 1: warning you not to make a specific choice or take 10 00:00:57,640 --> 00:01:01,120 Speaker 1: a particular action. If you are anything like me, your 11 00:01:01,160 --> 00:01:05,880 Speaker 1: answer to these questions is a resounding disappointed yes. Likely 12 00:01:06,200 --> 00:01:08,840 Speaker 1: after you spoke when you should have remained silent or 13 00:01:08,880 --> 00:01:12,560 Speaker 1: conducted yourself in a manner that failed to represent Kingdom qualities, 14 00:01:13,000 --> 00:01:17,440 Speaker 1: your instantaneous response was regret. Why is it that we 15 00:01:17,520 --> 00:01:21,639 Speaker 1: so often choose what we shouldn't because all have fallen 16 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:24,399 Speaker 1: short of a glory of God Romans three twenty three. 17 00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:29,080 Speaker 1: Sometimes it isn't even a conscious, thought out decision, but 18 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:33,840 Speaker 1: rather an instinctive reaction we just automatically do or say 19 00:01:33,959 --> 00:01:37,920 Speaker 1: without thinking. Even the Apostle Paul, who many of us 20 00:01:38,040 --> 00:01:41,200 Speaker 1: esteem as a father in the faith transparently shared his 21 00:01:41,280 --> 00:01:44,520 Speaker 1: own struggle with sin when he said, the trouble is 22 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:47,440 Speaker 1: with me, for I am all too human, a slave 23 00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:51,840 Speaker 1: to sin. I don't really understand myself, for I want 24 00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:54,880 Speaker 1: to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, 25 00:01:55,080 --> 00:01:59,440 Speaker 1: I do what I hate Romans seven fourteen through sixteen 26 00:01:59,680 --> 00:02:03,320 Speaker 1: and all. It is so easy to beat ourselves up 27 00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:05,880 Speaker 1: when we fall short, But as Paul shared, we are 28 00:02:05,920 --> 00:02:09,520 Speaker 1: only human. This is not an excuse for us to sin, 29 00:02:09,680 --> 00:02:12,800 Speaker 1: but rather an acknowledgment of our fallen state and of 30 00:02:12,880 --> 00:02:17,200 Speaker 1: God's unfathomable mercy. The Lord knows we will fail again 31 00:02:17,680 --> 00:02:21,560 Speaker 1: and again and again. He knew it from the very beginning, 32 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:24,040 Speaker 1: when it was decided in the garden that Christ would 33 00:02:24,080 --> 00:02:27,000 Speaker 1: come and pay the penalty for our sins so that 34 00:02:27,040 --> 00:02:30,280 Speaker 1: we might be reconciled to the Father. Our heavenly Father 35 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:33,120 Speaker 1: is not asking us to be perfect or to achieve 36 00:02:33,200 --> 00:02:37,240 Speaker 1: some unattainable standard of Christianity. Instead, he has made a 37 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:40,480 Speaker 1: way for us to remain connected to Him despite our sin, 38 00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:42,919 Speaker 1: through the blood of Jesus and the gift of repentance. 39 00:02:43,919 --> 00:02:46,680 Speaker 1: When our children make poor choices, what is it that 40 00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:52,600 Speaker 1: we want most from them? We desire repentance and reconciliation. True, 41 00:02:52,720 --> 00:02:56,000 Speaker 1: there might be consequences for their actions, but our ultimate 42 00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:59,160 Speaker 1: goal is to retain relationship and remind them of our 43 00:02:59,240 --> 00:03:02,360 Speaker 1: unfailing loved for them. It is the same with the Lord. 44 00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:06,639 Speaker 1: He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, 45 00:03:06,760 --> 00:03:10,640 Speaker 1: but everyone to come to repentance second Peter three nine 46 00:03:10,880 --> 00:03:15,600 Speaker 1: and IV. Even if we understand this to be true, somehow, 47 00:03:15,720 --> 00:03:17,560 Speaker 1: when we know we have done wrong, we end up 48 00:03:17,600 --> 00:03:21,480 Speaker 1: distancing ourselves from the Lord rather than drawing nearer to him, 49 00:03:22,240 --> 00:03:24,160 Speaker 1: Just like Adam and Eve in the garden all of 50 00:03:24,160 --> 00:03:27,200 Speaker 1: this years ago. We want to cover our shame. We 51 00:03:27,240 --> 00:03:30,920 Speaker 1: want to hide from an all seeing God. While logically 52 00:03:30,960 --> 00:03:33,600 Speaker 1: we know this is impossible, we somehow think if we 53 00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:38,200 Speaker 1: remain in the shadows, it will go unnoticed. However, the 54 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:41,000 Speaker 1: awareness of our own thoughts or deeds within our hearts 55 00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:44,520 Speaker 1: can only be silenced for so long. Regret, we'll eat 56 00:03:44,520 --> 00:03:46,800 Speaker 1: away at our peace until we finally surrender it to 57 00:03:46,840 --> 00:03:49,720 Speaker 1: the Lord. What will we find when we reach this 58 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:54,440 Speaker 1: point of surrender? Are judge ready to issue punishment? Now? 59 00:03:54,960 --> 00:03:57,920 Speaker 1: We will find our loving Father running towards us with 60 00:03:58,040 --> 00:04:00,800 Speaker 1: open arms, just as we read the Parable of the 61 00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:04,320 Speaker 1: Prodigal Sun, ready to embrace us, mud, muck and all. 62 00:04:05,240 --> 00:04:07,720 Speaker 1: He will wash away all of our sin, put a 63 00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:11,240 Speaker 1: fresh robe of righteousness upon our backs, and welcome us 64 00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:14,800 Speaker 1: into communion with him. If we confess our sins. He 65 00:04:14,920 --> 00:04:17,760 Speaker 1: is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and 66 00:04:17,839 --> 00:04:22,880 Speaker 1: to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. First shown one nine ESV. 67 00:04:24,520 --> 00:04:28,320 Speaker 1: Intersecting faith and life. Do you still feel the weight 68 00:04:28,360 --> 00:04:31,080 Speaker 1: of guilt or remorse over a situation when you fell 69 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:34,840 Speaker 1: into sin? If so, ask yourself, why are you still 70 00:04:34,880 --> 00:04:38,280 Speaker 1: carrying this regret? Are you distancing yourself from the Lord 71 00:04:38,320 --> 00:04:41,279 Speaker 1: because you feel unworthy? Or is there another reason you 72 00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:44,240 Speaker 1: are still struggling with shamee. I invite you to take 73 00:04:44,279 --> 00:04:46,839 Speaker 1: a look at the scripture passages listed in the further 74 00:04:46,920 --> 00:04:50,440 Speaker 1: reading section. In particular, I encourage you to read The 75 00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:54,520 Speaker 1: Parable of the Prodigal Son Luke fifteen eleven through thirty two. 76 00:04:55,400 --> 00:04:58,200 Speaker 1: May you find relief and reconciliation as you return to 77 00:04:58,240 --> 00:05:01,320 Speaker 1: the Lord through repentance. He is there waiting for you 78 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:05,120 Speaker 1: with open arms. For further reading, take a look at 79 00:05:05,160 --> 00:05:09,719 Speaker 1: Luke chapter fifteen, verses eleven through thirty two and John 80 00:05:09,880 --> 00:05:17,760 Speaker 1: three sixteen The Crosswalk Devotional is a production of Life 81 00:05:17,839 --> 00:05:21,800 Speaker 1: Audio and Salem Media. 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