Scripture: “For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.” – Romans 7:15
Examination of Chapter: In this chapter, Paul explains how controlling sin can be. He reminds believers that they are no longer “under the Mosaic law”, but now they are free because of Christ. He explains that sin is constantly a struggle even for Christians because we still are carnal beings living in a sinful world. The law was given to reveal sin and how powerless we are against it. We can only have victory through the empowering Spirit of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Application: For the last couple of days, I’ve been riding my bike with my husband. It’s not an easy task for me as I have chronic knee pain that requires steroid shots to minimize the discomfort the bending causes, but I do it for a couple of reasons. One, I love doing things with my husband. Two, I know it’s good for me to get outside and breathe some fresh air, and lastly, I know it’s a great way to get purposeful movement in for my body.
I feel the same way about going to the gym. I’d much rather be home, reading a book or watching a Christmas movie (true confession… I watch them year-round). But, like the biking, going to the gym has a lot of health benefits, both physical and mental. So, I force myself to go… although, not as often as I should.
Paul knew exactly what that was like when he stated in Romans 7 that he knew what he should do, but failed to do it, and then the contrary was true for him as well. What he knew he shouldn’t do, he did. As Christians, we are often like Paul in that sometimes we don’t want to do those things that are critical to do for our spiritual health, and the things that are detrimental to our spiritual life, we do. No one wants to say they don’t want to read the Bible, yet that is often something we postpone doing, and then, frankly, it doesn’t get done. Prayer is another necessity for our spiritual well-being, yet often it is subconsciously viewed as obligatory and rushed, or solely engaged in at mealtime. I am so guilty of this!
Unfortunately, good habits, like eating fresh fruits and vegetables instead of chips and cookies, are not as appealing to our carnal nature. Give me a bowl of ice cream any time, any day, and I’ll happily indulge. The truth is, however, that eating foods rich in fat and sugar intensify joint pain (I apologize to m knees!), compound heart and lung disease, and make for a pretty weak and unhealthy body.
Similarly, neglecting to read my Bible and pray yields a very ineffective spiritual life. My faith becomes weak and unable to do as Ephesians 6:16 states, “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” I become extremely vulnerable to the attacks from Satan and easily fall prey to his temptations. My spiritual defenses are not able to protect me when “… your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” (1 Peter 5:8). Reading the Bible and praying strengthen my faith and my walk with God empowering me to “fight the good fight of faith” as Paul calls it (1 Timothy 6:12).
I also cannot defend myself against my own thoughts and sinful ways when I don’t fortify my spiritual being with Scripture and prayer. Jeremiah 17:9 warns that “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” I easily fall victim to both my excuses and justifications for sinful behaviors and the world’s rationalizations for wicked actions. As the Spirit of God works to convict me of sin, my carnal self fights just as hard to justify every sinful action! I, like Paul, cry out, ”… for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.”
All is not lost! The remedy for an unhealthy soul is the same as for an unhealthy body. If I neglect to eat daily, my body will suffer. When I choose to not read my Bible or pray, my spirit also begins to experience the effects of a weakened faith. I must do that which I know is good for healthy growth of my spiritual nature. It is vital to make Bible reading and prayer purposeful on a daily basis, not simply items on a checklist that I get to mark off when done. Make time to read and study the Word of God each day.
The first item that nourishes our souls is reading God’s Word. Joshua 1:8 explains why the Bible is so necessary for our faith. “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” In reading the Bible, we learn more about our Lord, more how to live our lives to please Him, and more about how to fight the battle against sin and wickedness in this present world. Titus 2:12 explains the importance of a good foundation in the Scriptures. “Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;” Every verse in the Bible is meaningful for our lives as 2 Timothy 3:16 reminds us, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” Neglecting the Bible will result in a starving soul.
The second element which feeds our souls is prayer. James 4:8 tells us why prayer is key to our relationship with God. “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.” That is why the Lord commands us in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing.” Keeping ourselves close to God is key to victory over sin in this world. We communicate to God through prayer, and He communicates to us through His Word. Let’s keep the lines of communication open each and every day!
There is a children’s Sunday school song that speaks to these truths.
Read your Bible and pray everyday, pray everyday, pray everyday. Read your bible and pray everyday and you'll grow, grow, grow! Don’t read your Bible, forget to pray, forget to pray, forget to pray. Don't read your Bible, forget to pray, and you'll shrink, shrink, shrink!
There’s a lot of wisdom in those simple lyrics! Let’s grow our faith each day!
Moments with God: My dearest heavenly Father, I cry out to You for wisdom and help. Many times I have chosen my way, not yours, even when I’ve known better. And even though there have been times when I’ve doubted Your forgiveness for sinning against You, You keep reminding me THROUGH YOUR WORD, that You forgive every sin before and after my salvation. I am not perfect, and that is not an excuse to sin, but it is an admission, O God, that I am a broken vessel that still needs You to heal me. I thank You for Philippians 1:6. It is a comfort to know that I am still Your work in progress. I thank You for 1 John 1:9 that reminds me that You forgives me every time I ask. Help me to be faithful to reading Your Word and praying to You. In Jesus’ precious name, I pray. Amen.