War

I love Paul in the New Testament. He is just so real to me. I relate with him better than any of the others, because he was passionate yet struggled with how flawed he was constantly. As his relationship with God matured over the years, he saw more and more of his own flaws. Towards the ends of his life he even wrote to Timothy, his spiritual son, that he considered himself to be the worst of all sinners. (1 Timothy 1:15)

I say all this to let you know that even though I know what God has called me to do, and I know the standards He desires for my life, I struggle constantly with actually doing them. One thing I have come to respect in preachers, teachers, and mentors is that they all struggle as well. Just because you know the truth, doesn't mean you don't fall for the lie. We are human in every way.

This was brought to my attention once again last night by the Holy Spirit's guidance as I went to bed late after getting sucked into watching an hour and a half of useless, yet funny, videos. I just talked about learning my lesson in this Sunday! Doesn't take long does it?

Here is the passage the Lord brought to my mind. As you read over what Paul wrote, reflect on one or two things that always tend to get you.

Romans 7:15-25
For I do not understand what I am doing, because I do not practice what I want to do, but I do what I hate. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree with the law that it is good. So now I am no longer the one doing it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it. For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do. Now if I do what I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but it is the sin that lives in me. 
So I discover this principle: when I want to do good, evil is with me. For in my inner self I joyfully agree with God's law. But I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I myself am a slave to the law of God, but with my flesh to the law of sin.


Praise Jesus Christ my Savior and Lord! For He said Himself, "The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed," (Luke 4:18)


Just think, as messed up as we are... we are free!