War

Yesterday, we read Paul’s response to those that believe God’s grace gives us the freedom to do whatever we want. On the other end of the spectrum, there are those that believe we have to earn God’s grace, or need to somehow maintain it, through obeying God’s Law. You can check out Paul’s response in Romans 7:1-6. Today, I want you to check out a passage where Paul really opens up about his journey.


Romans 7
14 So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin.
15 I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.
16 But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good.
17 So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.
18 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t.
19 I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.
20 But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.
21 I have discovered this principle of life - that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong.
22 I love God’s law with all my heart.
23 But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.
24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?
25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.


War. I love the honesty of this passage ... the reminder Paul offers us for our journey. Jesus defeated sin on the cross and overcame death through His resurrection. He won the war; but the war isn’t over. Part of following Jesus is learning how to honor God. The other part is actually doing it. The problem is that there is still a selfish part of who we were lurking around in our life seeking to distract us from honoring God. As Paul said, the answer is in Jesus. I have a feeling Jesus knew that we would face this type of struggle ... listen to what He said in Luke 9:23, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me...” You have to choose daily to put aside you so you can be more like Him.