Daily Reading: 6-30-16
Romans 7:14-25 The Living Bible (TLB)
When I was a child, I played outside a lot. It was a great time as there were many children around my age in the neighborhood. One of the games we used to play was tug-o-war. I was never picked for the team until the very end, because I brought very little mass and strength for victory.
For the Christian, every day can be an inner battle or tug-o-war between choosing to do that which is good before God and choosing to do that which is evil. Even though we are born again to new life and have the indwelling Spirit, evil still lurks within our old nature. Just becoming a Christian does not eliminate sin and temptation from our lives.
The Apostle Paul teaches us this morning that when we get into the Word, it begins to show us the Truth of our lower natures that have yet to be transformed into the image of Christ. Knowledge of residing sin cannot save us; knowledge just reveals to us we have a problem. Trying to change ourselves cannot save us, we will always fail the tug-o-war and fall into frustration. We need the work of the Spirit; we must take hold of the tremendous power provided by Grace to deliver us from evil. Christ has made the power available to us, but we must choose to let the Spirit lead us into freedom. Becoming like Christ takes a lifetime of appropriating Grace.