Day 7 — Something Went Wrong

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”

— Romans 3:23–24 (BSB)

In the very beginning, everything God made was good. He put the first two people, Adam and Eve, in a beautiful garden. They could walk and talk with God. They had everything they needed. God gave them just one rule: don’t eat from one special tree.

But a sneaky serpent came along and asked, “Did God really say that?” He made Eve wonder whether God was really good, and whether God was keeping something from her. Eve ate the fruit and gave some to Adam, and he ate it too.

Right away, everything changed. For the first time, they felt ashamed. When they heard God walking in the garden, they hid. The friendship between people and God was broken.

That’s what the Bible calls sin: choosing our own way instead of God’s way. And since that day, every person has been born with a heart that wants its own way. “All have sinned.” Not just really bad people. All. That includes the nicest person you know, and it includes you and me.

“Fall short” is like shooting a basketball that doesn’t reach the hoop. It doesn’t matter if you miss by an inch or by ten feet. A miss is a miss. God’s glory is His perfect goodness, and every one of us has missed it. Some sins seem big, like stealing. Some seem small, like being jealous or talking back. But all of them break God’s perfect standard.

That sounds like bad news, and it is. But don’t stop reading! Look at the very next words: “and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”

Justified means made right with God. Freely means as a gift. Grace means kindness we don’t deserve. The problem is big, but God’s answer is bigger. And His answer has a name: Jesus.

This week, we’ll see how God fixes what went wrong.

Think about it: Why do you think Adam and Eve hid from God after they sinned? Do people still try to hide from God today?

Try this: Take a quiet minute and be honest with God about one way you’ve gone your own way this week. You don’t have to hide.

Dear God, I know that I have sinned. I have chosen my own way instead of Your way, and I’m sorry. Thank You that You didn’t leave the world broken. Thank You for Jesus, who came to make things right. Help me understand Your good news this week. In Jesus’ name, Amen.