I have sinned and fall short of Your Glory

 You Have Said It Truthfully

A Reflection on Romans 3:23-24

I have sinned and fall short of Your glory—this I know too well.

My best attempts are tattered rags, my righteousness a shell.

I cannot reach the standard of Your holiness and light;

I stumble in the darkness, even when I try to do what's right.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)

But here is the wonder—the gospel's core:

You do not leave me in my failure, broken on the floor.

The next verse does not say, "Now try harder, do your best."

It says, "and are justified freely by His grace"—a heavenly rest.

And all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:24)

I confess my sin—not to earn forgiveness,

But because You already paid the price, full and limitless.

The cross stands as the proof: while I was still a sinner,

Christ died for me, the feast before the dinner.

So I do not hide my falling short.

I bring it to the cross, my only resort.

For where sin abounded, grace abounded more—

You opened heaven's door.

But where sin increased, grace increased all the more. (Romans 5:20)

Lord, I fall short—but You are my completion.

My failure is not the end; it is the beginning of submission.

I lift my empty hands to You, not to excuse,

But to receive the righteousness I could never produce.

Thank You for loving me not when I was perfect,

But when I was lost, broken, and imperfect.

I have sinned and fall short—but in Christ, I stand complete.

Your glory becomes my story, from Your mercy seat.

Amen.