None of us can keep all the commandments, without Christ, it's just not possible. According to James 2:10, if you break one of the commandments, you break them all. However, we have hope because Jesus became the sacrificial lamb for the whole world. He paid the price with his death on the cross. The law shows us that we are sinners and points us to the cross of Christ, just like the bronze serpent in Numbers 21:8-9 pointed to the cross. The Israelites were saved when they looked at the serpent on the pole, just as we are saved when we look at Jesus, admit that we have failed, and ask for forgiveness. Many times, the people failed to fully trust and obey God, yet in the end, they persevered and reached the Promised Land.

Yes, we will fall short in obeying God. We may feel like failures because our fears have kept us from following through. Yet God has not given up on us and still wants us to follow Him. It is not the end just because we did not succeed the first time. Many people, like athletes and inventors, failed many times before they succeeded.

Peter denied Jesus three times, yet Jesus forgave him, and he went on to preach boldly after Jesus’ ascension. He did not give up simply because he fell on his face, and neither should we. Even if something we tried in the past failed, it doesn't mean we should give up. No, we should go back, count the cost for whatever project it is, and do better next time. Don’t allow fear of failure or fear of what others think of you to stop you from making it happen. Even famous authors like Karen Kingsbury were rejected 30 times before her first book was published. Failure or rejection is a part of life, but it doesn't have to define who you are. You are a child of God, and you were destined to shine for Him. Or, as Josh Baldwin says in his song, “I was made for more.” As he sings, we know who we are and who we belong to. God has a plan for each of us, and we were meant to keep trying until we succeed. So, even if you fall down, pick yourself up again. Failure is not the end.

Querido Padre Celestial,

I confess that I have often sinned and fallen short of Your instructions to me. Thank You for my hope in Jesus that You can reshape me and make me useful in Your Kingdom just as the potter reshaped the clay pot that was marred in his hands. Keep me in Your hands, O Lord! Shape me into a vessel of honor. Cleanse me of my sin, make me holy, and make me useful for every good work to which I am called. Help me cooperate with You in the process. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Today’s verse should not cause us to feel hopeless, that “everybody sins.” Also, if we sin, we should not resign ourselves to failure to reach a goal that is God’s will for us. Rather, confess and renounce the sin. Pray to God for the gift of repentance. Ask that the blood of Jesus be applied to redeem you from the guilt of the sin and the condemnation of failure (Romans 2:24-26). If you have trusted Jesus with your life, confess that Jesus is the Righteous One and the one who justifies you (Romans 2:24-26).