I came to the conclusion that the Lord wanted to talk to me. So I laid back down and began to pray. And while I had a sweet time of prayer, it's where He brought me in the Word that I want to talk about. I read a Psalm and Proverb for today, and then opened up Romans 7 to think about what sin is in my life and how often I can ignore it.
What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead. I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. (Romans 7:7-12, ESV)How crazy is it that if the Lord had not provided the Law, we wouldn't even know when we are sinning?!? How gracious is our Father to provide the Law for us to look at and know what is wrong and what is right! Looking back on classes I've taken about ancient cultures and religions, there is no religion out there that offers clear condemnation of specific sins, AND redemption all at the same time. It blows my mind when people choose another religion over Christianity because even from a logical viewpoint, Christianity is the only religion to offer this! I once sat through a class that one day scoffed and told jokes about Christianity and it's savior, they sneered at the commandments and the rebuking of sin. The very next day the class had a calm discussion about how Islam, condemning man to hell without any SURE salvation, was a logical religion and should be respected and "to each his own". I was baffled.
Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure. For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.(Romans 7:13-25, ESV)
Okay so this next bit I love so much because, I'm not sure about you, but I've been exactly where Paul's at in this passage and it's encouraging to know even Paul can look at himself and go WHAT THE HECK AM I DOING?
I mean, I cannot tell you the countless times I have been on my knees before the Lord asking for forgiveness and a repentant heart only to turn around and commit the same sin I was on my knees for!!
"For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that NOTHING good dwells in me, that is, my flesh." and then "For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am!"
For as long as we live on this earth, we will be at war with our flesh. My problem is that I too often rely on my own flesh and not the Lord. I believe I have the strength, will and drive to do anything righteous, but that is so wrong!
I'm moving on to Romans 8 and I'm excited to share with you all what I learn. But for this passage I just want to sit back and laugh at our silly circumstances and our foolish pride. Then I want to turn to the Lord, ask for forgiveness of my pride and distrust in the Lord and hand over my sins to Him, the only one who can conquer them.
Love Always,
Christina
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