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Writer's pictureBryce Johnson

Not Measuring Up

The Ohio State Buckeyes are one of the best teams in the country this year, and they confirmed that last Saturday night when they took care of conference rival Michigan State 34-10.

In an article for The Detroit News with the headline, “Michigan State Faces the Reality of Not Measuring Up After Dismantling By Ohio State,” writer Matt Charboneau, writes the following:

“As hard as Michigan State (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten) played, as much as the Spartans believed they had a chance to walk into Ohio Stadium and pull off the upset — something this program has done in the past — they simply didn’t measure up when it came to pure, physical talent.”

He explains how talented Ohio State is and that Michigan State really needed to play a perfect game if they were going to win, but instead fell short with too many mistakes.

Spartans head coach, Mark Dantonio, had this to say following the game: “But it was six minutes to go in the second quarter and it’s 17-10. So we're in the football game, but you got to play perfectly. We can't drop balls. We can't fumble when we have a catch. We can't have an inadvertent pitch that's fumbled.”

We know how hard playing a perfect game in football is (especially when you don’t have the talent or ability to do so), and the same is true in life.

The more we realize we aren’t good enough, we'll never be perfect, and we don’t have the ability to save ourselves, the more profound our need for Jesus and understanding of the Gospel will be.

The following verses from the Bible remind us that God is the only one who is perfect and His standard is perfection:

“...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God...” (Romans 3:23; ESV).

“'...None is righteous, no, not one...'” (Romans 3:10; ESV).

"For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it” (James 2:10; NIV).

All of our fumbles, dropped passes, and mistakes cause us to “face the reality of not measuring up.” Thankfully (unlike Michigan State), there is hope for us and victory over our sin and unworthiness.

Romans 5:8 (ESV) says, “...but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

And Ephesians 2:8 affirms, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God…”

There is actually freedom when we understand that we will never measure up based on our own "talent" and that Jesus makes a way for that to be okay. When we rest in Him and His finished work on the cross, we rely on His strength and power within us.

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 12:9 “But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

Also, 2 Corinthians 3:5 tells us, “Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God.”

Today, let’s not be discouraged by our inability to measure up or be perfect, but rather find peace in knowing that everything we need is found in Jesus.

I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I admit that I am a sinner in need of Your grace. I know that I will never measure up on my own, but I’m so grateful that my sufficiency and strength come from You. Thank you for making a way for me to know You and be in right standing with You. It’s because of Jesus and it’s in His name I pray, Amen.Discussion Questions for PACKS:


Do you feel pressure to be perfect at home or on the job? If so, who places that pressure on you?


Can you think of times that you have put unnecessary pressure to be perfect on others?


What situations are you able to rely on God for His perfect strength and power...and embrace your weaknesses and insufficiency?

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