Have you ever had one of those days where everything goes wrong, and no matter how hard you try, it’s like the universe is against you? You spill your coffee, hit every red light, and then forget that important deadline. By the end of the day, you’re just thinking, “Can I get a do-over?” Well, we don’t often get a reset button in life, but the beautiful thing about God is that He gives us one.
This past weekend, Michael Walker’s message Yom Kippur – The Day of Atonement was all about that cosmic do-over. Yom Kippur is God’s way of saying, “I’ve seen it all, the good, the bad, and the downright embarrassing—and guess what? I’m giving you a clean slate.” But here’s the catch: You can’t earn it. This might be hard for us overachievers to accept, but God’s love and grace aren’t something we work for.
Romans 3:10 says, “There is no one righteous, not even one.” That means we’re all in the same boat here—nobody can check off enough “good deed” boxes to earn a spot in heaven. And you know what? That’s okay! Yeshua already took care of it.
Michael clarified that Yeshua didn’t just make a sacrifice—He was the sacrifice. Think of it this way: Imagine owing someone a billion dollars (yikes!), and all you have in your bank account is 15 bucks and some change. Not great. But then Yeshua steps in and says, “Don’t worry, I’ve got this. Debt paid.” How would you feel? Relieved? Grateful? Maybe even slightly like, “I didn’t deserve that, but I’ll take it!” That’s what Yom Kippur is all about—God wiping the slate clean for us, no strings attached.
Michael explained that God doesn’t look at us and say, “Well, you’re not as good as that person over there, but you’re doing alright.” Nope. He doesn’t grade us on a curve. He looks at the cross and says, “Did you accept Yeshua’s gift?” That’s the only “test” that matters.
Let’s pause for a moment. Do you sometimes feel like you’re not good enough for God’s love? Spoiler alert: you’re not! But none of us are, and that’s the point. It’s a gift we can’t earn, which makes it amazing. The real question is, are you willing to accept the gift?
So, here’s your take-home thought: Quit trying to be “good enough.” You won’t get there, and God doesn’t expect you to. He wants you to accept His love and grace and live from a place of gratitude, not striving.
Let’s talk about what this looks like in your daily life. Maybe you’re someone who’s constantly feeling like you have to do more—more serving, more giving, more achieving—because you think that’s how you get closer to God. But the truth is, no amount of “doing” can get you there. Yeshua already made the way, and now it’s up to you to accept it.
Let’s pray: Lord, I thank You that I don’t have to earn Your love. Help me to remember that Yeshua’s sacrifice is more than enough and that I can rest in Your grace. Teach me to stop striving and start trusting in the work You’ve already done for me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Today, remember that you’re already loved, accepted, and forgiven. Your “good enough” doesn’t matter because Yeshua was good enough for you. Walk in that freedom today and quit trying to pay a debt already settled.
Call to Action: Consider sharing this devotional with someone who might need encouragement today. Check out the podcast replay of this message on your favorite podcast platform. Search for “CITCBA Insights” today. You can listen at churchinthecity.org/podcasts. And if you’re in the area, join us at Church in the City for one of our services. Our Saturday service at 10 a.m. has a Messianic theme, and our Sunday contemporary service starts at 10:45 a.m. Church in the City began as an outreach in the early 80s and became a church in 1991, dedicated to reflecting Christ in our community and the world.