**Title Knowing Our Need for a Savior**
**Scripture Reading: Romans 3:10-12**
*”As it is written: ‘There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.’”*
**Heidelberg Catechism:** Questions 3, 4, and 5 of the Heidelberg Catechism.
**Q3: How do you come to know your misery?** **A3: The law of God tells me.**
**Q4: What does God’s law require of us?****A4: Christ teaches us this in summary in Matthew 22:37-40: ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first and greatest commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.’**
**Q5: Can you live up to all this perfectly?****A5: No. I have a natural tendency to hate God and my neighbor.**
**DEVOTION :**
1.Have you ever felt like you just can’t measure up? Like no matter how hard you try, you keep messing up? It’s a tough feeling, but it’s ctually something the Bible talks about a lot.
The Heidelberg Catechism helps us understand this feeling by pointing us to God’s law. God’s law shows us what perfection looks like – loving God with everything we’ve got and loving our neighbors as ourselves. But here’s the hard truth: none of us can do this perfectly. We all fall short. We all mess up. And that’s what Q5 is about – it’s acknowledging that on our own, we just can’t do it.
2.So, why is this important? Why should we focus on our failures?
Understanding our failures helps us see our need for Jesus. When we see how we can’t keep God’s law perfectly, we start to see why Jesus’ sacrifice is so incredible. Jesus came and lived the perfect life we couldn’t. He loved God and others perfectly, and then He took the punishment for our sins on Himself. Because of Jesus, we are forgiven and loved, despite our failures.
3.So, next time you feel like you can’t measure up, remember this: it’s okay to admit you can’t do it all perfectly. That’s why Jesus came. He loves you, forgives you, and helps you grow. Trust in Him, and let His love guide you every day.
**PRAYER :**
Dear Jesus, thank You for loving me even when I fall short. Help me to remember that I don’t have to be perfect because You were perfect for me. Teach me to love God and others as You have loved me. Amen.
—Feel free to share this devotion with your youth group or use it in your personal reflection.