Redeemed and Rewritten: Part VII

Scripture: 
“I have discovered this principle of life - that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. 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. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 7:21-25, NLT).

Observation: 
In the seventh chapter of Romans, Paul gets incredibly honest about his own human struggle with sin. His experience is relatable to all of us. Paul asks the question we all want to ask: “Why do we want to do what we’re told not to do, what we hate?” It is tempting to look at other Christians and think they never battle with sin, but we are all only human. This letter from Paul brings us comfort and reassurance. It reminds us that we are not alone in our struggles and that we don’t have to fight the battle of our flesh alone. When we invite Jesus into our lives, it is through Him that we have the victory (1 Corinthians 15:57). 
Paul admits that there is sin within him. It’s a powerful admission: I’m saved, but I’m still struggling! I want to do good, but evil is right there, knocking at the door. As we grow in our spiritual walk, while we must learn the law, we must hunger more for sanctification. Think of it like a spiritual mirror, revealing the sin within us–things we may not even be aware of. We need the law to show us and tell us what not to do. However, the law alone does not have the power to save us or stop us from sinning. We must choose to run from sin, straight into the arms of Jesus. 
It’s a tale as old as time; the serpent deceived Eve by taking her focus off of the freedom she had, using lies and manipulation to magnify the one restriction God had placed on her and Adam. Like Eve, we can all be rebellious, overly curious, easily tempted. This is why we are in desperate need of a Savior. And when that Savior comes into our lives, and we realize who we are without Him, it changes everything. We long to serve Him, not because the law says to, but because we come to understand the deep and unending love He has for us. Our love, in return, is the only response.

Application: 
Just like Paul is admitting imperfection, I am, too. I know I am not perfect–which is why I need Jesus! Since becoming a follower of Christ, I have invited many of my friends and family to church. All too often, I have heard, “I don’t have it all together like you; they wouldn’t allow me through those church doors.” The lie that we must be perfect for Jesus to accept us is straight from the enemy. Jesus wants us to come and lay it all down at His feet, to recognize our sins and then surrender all to Him. Depending on my own willpower gets me nowhere. It’s nothing but a frustrating dead end. This is why I am in church week after week and year after year–I will never stop needing Jesus. 
Pastor Julius reminded us Sunday, that, when we come to Jesus, salvation is instant–it is a gift and cannot be earned! Sanctification, though–becoming more like Christ–that is a process. We are set apart by God, immediately, but there is a personal response to that gift. Each day, we must go through the process of allowing Him to transform our hearts and minds. While we won’t be complete until we are with Him in heaven, we must strive to look more like Him (Ephesians 5:1).
As we continue to walk with Jesus, it is important that we recognize how incapable we are of winning this battle on our own. We need a strong community of believers. This means being in church with others who are running this race with you; we need the perfect law to direct our ways. This means reading the Bible and meditating on scripture. We need the Holy Spirit to guide our paths. This means asking the Holy Spirit to come and dwell and communicate within you. But, most important, we need Jesus to save us. This starts with repenting of your sins and making Jesus the Lord of your life. 

Prayer:
Father God, I admit that I am a sinner in need of a Savior. Holy Spirit, I ask you to guide me throughout my days, and give me awareness to stop myself before giving in to moments of temptation. Lord, I thank You for Your grace when I fall short, going back to doing things I hate! Please forgive me for trying to do things on my own and give me the power to choose Your way, today. Lord, I long to serve You. I serve You because I love You and can’t wait to worship You, each day. In Jesus name, Amen.