Slave to Sin

Too many times I ask myself  "Why did you do that, Meagan? You know better than to act like that, or speak like that, or to have an attitude like that." I get so down on myself for the things that I do that I KNOW I'm not supposed to. It's a never-ending circle of sin that I find myself stuck in sometimes. But, there's always something good from everything you do, you just have to look for it... here's what I've found to be true. 

* Romans 7:14- 8:2- "We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do- this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but is it sin living in me that does it. So, I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members or my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a WRETCHED(worthless, afflicted, sorry) man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God-through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. THEREFORE, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death!!

The apostle Paul struggled just like each of us struggle. He found himself in the same situations that we struggle with. Paul is speaking of the normal Christian life which describes ONLY Christian and ALL genuine Christians. Paul is very humble and responsive to the fact that he messes up and that he's not perfect at all. He wants to do what's right, but his body won't respond. I don't think Paul dwells on the weakness of our flesh in order to discourages us; I believe he exposes the weakness of our flesh as the root problem which prevents Christians from living the kind of lives God requires and what we, as Christians, desire in our innermost being. In Romans 7, Paul exposes the weakness of our flesh to prepare us for God's provision for Godly living, which is the solution found in Romans 8. I LOVE how it goes from all the things he feels about his weaknesses and talking about his downfalls towards God, to boldly saying THEREFORE... it sets a tone that makes Christians connect with Paul and the way he feels. Therefore- right when it gets to that word, it's like everything that we've done wrong is paid for by the blood of the Lamb. What a more beautiful picture than Christ giving up his very own life to save us from our sins that we continually get caught up in. We've been forgiven- what else could we want? We have salvation through Jesus! What a wonderful feeling to know that no matter what sins we commit, God has already forgiven us. 

I lead a Bible study for my hall on Wednesday nights, and a few weeks ago this was our topic. It has been incredible to see the way this verse has changed my outlook. I am so thankful for the ways in which God can use scripture over and over again to continually draw me back to Him! Praise the Lord. 

Praying for you today as you seek God's will for your life, and as you continue to be an open vessel for Him! Love you today!