Our Devotion for today is taken from: Amazing Grace Devotions for Lent by Michael Hoy.
24 Wretched person that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I am a slave to the law of God, but with my flesh I am a slave to the law of sin.
Romans 7:24-25NRSV
GRACE FOR THE STRUGGLE
There is always struggle in the Christian life. Sin may no longer have domination over us because of our baptisms – but we still commit sins. The good we want to do, we don’t do and the evil we don’t want to do, we do. Scarred by sin, we cry out about the “wretched” state. Who would rescue us in this struggle? Jesus Christ our Lord will! We confess that we are bound by sin and not able to escape from its grip on our own. We confess what is already obviously clear, in the presence of God and others. There is no room for coming off as pious or self-righteous. We are free to make that confession because of the grace of Christ’s forgiveness that overcomes all our wrongs and renews our body and spirit in his promise of eternal life.
Friends,
The Apostle Paul understands the internal struggles we endure as we seek to live as authentic people of faith. There are moments when our spirit and desires are in harmonious balance, allowing us to shine brightly for Christ. Yet, at other moments, they are diametrically opposed and pull us in opposite directions. Our spirit seeks to serve, in reverent partnership, the God that redeems us, while our desires seek to indulge in those things the only gratify ourselves.
In our cited verse, Paul aptly articulates the struggle between adhering to the gospel of Christ versus our own internal compass. How are we to battle and overcome the fraying of our souls? With the help of Christ, who offers encouragement and enlightenment, we are equipped to restrain our desires run amuck. When we focus our hearts, resolve our minds, attune our ears, and focus our eyes on Christ’s we can overcome the lure our desires create. As we progress through this Lenten season, let us reaffirm our commitment to live as faithful, faith-filled, and authentic followers of Christ.
-Pastor Anthony
Prayer
Lord Jesus, lead us to confess the truth of our sinful nature, and to trust your grace that forgives and strengthens us. Amen.
-Michael Hoy