For All
READ
Have you ever tried to take a perfect photograph only to find that something was always slightly off? Maybe someone blinked, or the lighting wasn't quite right, or your finger partially covered the lens. No matter how many times you tried, perfection remained frustratingly elusive. That's a tiny glimpse of what Paul means in today’s passage when he writes that we "fall short of the glory of God."
Let’s take a moment to read Romans 3:22-24:
This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 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.
REFLECT
The Greek word for "fall short" (hystereo) literally means "to miss the mark" or "to lack." It's not just that we make occasional mistakes—we fundamentally lack the perfection that reflects God's glory.
The universal scope of this verse is both troubling and strangely comforting. "All have sinned" leaves no room for exceptions, no special category of humanity that has figured out how to live perfectly. From the most outwardly righteous religious leader to the person society might label as most depraved—and everyone in between—we all stand in the same position before God.
This reality check is crucial because our natural tendency is to compare ourselves horizontally with others rather than vertically with God's perfect standard. We think, "Well, I'm not as bad as so-and-so," creating false comfort in relative goodness rather than confronting our absolute shortcoming.
But here's where God's goodness begins to shine—even in acknowledging the reality of sin. By establishing a universal diagnosis, God creates the conditions for a universal remedy. There's no need for different solutions for different classes of people. If the problem is the same for everyone, then the solution can be the same for everyone.
Despite the uncomfortable truth of this verse, it contains hidden mercy. God doesn't leave us guessing about our condition or pretending we're better than we are. He names our problem clearly, with unflinching honesty but without condemnation. Like a skilled physician who must first accurately diagnose before offering treatment, God's assessment of our sin is actually the first step toward healing.
What's more, this verse reveals something precious about God's original design. To say we "fall short of the glory of God" implies that reflecting God's glory was our intended purpose. Sin isn't just breaking rules; it's missing the magnificent destiny we were created for—to be living mirrors of divine splendor in the world.
Even in establishing the reality of sin, God reveals his goodness by being truthful about our condition, universal in his diagnosis, and implicit in his reminder of our original, glorious purpose. This truth doesn't crush us but creates the necessary foundation for the hope that follows.
RESPOND
Take a moment to process what God might be leading you to do in light of what you read.
When you hear the phrase "all have sinned," how does it make you feel? Does it bring discouragement or relief to know that everyone shares this same fundamental condition?
In what ways have you experienced "falling short" of God's glory in your own life this past week? How might acknowledging these specific shortcomings actually draw you closer to God rather than push you away?
REST
Take a moment to rest in God’s presence and consider one thing you can take away from your time reading, then close your devotional experience by praying:
Gracious God, thank you for your honest diagnosis of my condition. Help me embrace the humbling truth that I fall short, not to condemn myself, but to appreciate the magnitude of your grace all the more. Remind me that in naming my sin, You've taken the first step toward healing me completely. Amen.