“Scripture reveals our dignity as beloved children and the disordering reality of sin.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – March 26, 2026
These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 1 Corinthians 10:11–12, NIV
In his Commentary on the Book of Job, Gregory the Great offers us a profound insight into the wisdom of Scripture and how we can best approach the heroes of the faith we find within its pages. “The virtues of the saints give our spirits wings through the joy they cause; their failures give us pause through fear.” When we think of “saints” or “heroes of the faith,” we typically think of their great accomplishments, the ways in which they showed courage or faith in the face of adversity and trial. Yet, as is often the case, we can learn as much, if not more, from failure as from success.
In truth, it is vital that we remember that every single person who has shown great virtue in their lives has also battled their demons and had the sickness of sin overtake them in ways they deeply regret. One simply has to think of the giants of the Bible: from Moses to David to Paul, we find people who bear witness to this truth. Here, Gregory the Great reminds us again that when looking at these figures and countless others like them, we not only learn about their lives, but we learn something about ourselves in the process. “Holy Scripture is presented to the mind’s eye like a mirror in which the appearance of our inner being can be seen. In this mirror, we can see both the ugliness and the beauty of our soul.”
Scripture reveals our dignity as beloved children and the disordering reality of sin. These are not “either/or” situations but are instead daily truths that we must learn to navigate with both humility and boldness. The failures of others, especially those we respect, give us an appropriate fear of God and humility as we live with an awareness of our own shortcomings. Yet when we see these broken and flawed men and women do mighty things for the Lord, blessing others in his name and selflessly giving their lives away, we see the power of God at work, and our faith is renewed, believing that what was true for them can, by God’s grace, be true for us as well.
Prayer
Father, thank you for the witness of Scripture and the reminder of the joy of walking in your ways and the humility and repentance needed when we stray, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Application
As you read Scripture this week, consider how it is a mirror into your own soul in this season of life.
Related Reading
Hebrews 4:12; Hebrews 13:7; James 1:23-25
Worship Resource
Phil Wickham: Song Of The Saints
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