From Failure to Forgiven

The Lord God called out to the man and asked, “Where are you?”

Genesis 3:9 (CEV)

Looks like you failed again. You betrayed friends. You disappointed your parents. You hurt your brother. What is it that makes us do such selfish things?

The first book of the Bible tells us where all that behavior comes from. God created us to be good. But he also gave us the freedom to choose between good and evil. And in Genesis 3, Eve, and then Adam, chose their own, selfish way. Since the beginning of time, all people have continued to do wrong—which is sin.

But God didn’t leave those first people to just keep hiding. Nor did he wipe them out. Rather, in love, he called to Adam to talk. He knew where they were hiding, and why, but he opened the conversation with a question, “Where are you?” God wanted Adam to confess his sin . . . to come face to face with his wrongdoing.

God loves us even when we do bad things. He searches for us in our failures. He wants us to quit hiding from him when we sin—to own up to our faults and turn to him for help. We don’t have to be afraid to turn to God because he sent Jesus to die for our sins so we can be forgiven.

God is still asking, “Where are you?” Have you accepted his forgiveness through Jesus, or are you continuing to try to make your own way? God is calling you back!

SPIRITUAL FITNESS TRAINING

Several verses in Romans explain God’s plan to save us from our sins. Some people call it the “Romans Road.” Try to get through each verse today. In a journal or piece of paper, write your thoughts about what you learn along the way.

PRAY

God, I sometimes make bad decisions and get myself into big messes. Please forgive me and help me.

KEEP IT GOING

Related passages: These additional verses will help you expand Scriptural knowledge and place on the armor of God’s Word to tackle each day. Please read...

Romans 3:23

Romans 5:8

Romans 6:23

Romans 8:1

Romans 10:9-10