“I just want to make sure that we are all on the same page.” How many times have we heard or said those words? Reading in the Book of Romans we realize that we are indeed all on the same page, and that is both bad news and good news.

I read a list of some sins that exist in our world. It is strange that sometimes we can even name the sinners who do them. We might even become a bit smug that “we are not like them.” Read Romans seriously and we discover that we are all on the same page: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

I have been in a courtroom a few times and there is something that is obvious. When several accused people are waiting their turn before the judge, they are not condemning each other, but are much concerned about their turn in front of the bench. The day will come when we all have an appointment in the presence of God. We might do well to learn a lesson from the courtroom.

The Pharisee in today’s scripture wanted to be on his own page. That’s too bad because the page he refused to be on held the names of humble and repentant sinners who went home justified.

The wages of sin is death (and we all have sinned) but the gift of God is life that Jesus Himself paid for upon the cross. We are all on the same page of His gift list; and we can be all on the same page in the Book of Life.

The old hymn says, “My name is in the book of Life, Oh, bless the name of Jesus; I rise above all doubt and strife, and read my title clear. I know, I know, my name is there; I know, I know, my name is written there.”