Develop Your Calling
This powerful message confronts us with an uncomfortable yet liberating truth: we all miss the mark. Through the visual of 613 Old Testament laws represented as targets, we're reminded that perfection isn't just difficult—it's impossible. Whether we're 12 years old with over 2.7 million chances to be perfect, or adults with over 10 million opportunities, Romans 3:23 declares the same verdict for everyone: all have sinned and fall short of God's glory. But here's where the story transforms from hopeless to hope-filled. While sin acts as a terrible boss that costs us everything—ultimately our very lives—God offers something we could never earn: eternal life through Jesus Christ. Romans 5:8 reminds us that Christ died for us while we were still sinners, meeting us in our mess rather than waiting for us to clean ourselves up first. This gift of salvation is like a meal someone else has paid for—once it's yours, it stays yours, never to be taken away. The Holy Spirit dwells within us just as permanently. As we enter Holy Week, we're challenged to consider the biggest word in Scripture: if. If we declare with our mouths that Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead, we will be saved. Everything hinges on how we answer that if question.