Devotions

Rev Gav

Arms

Romans 7.18–end

For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me.

So I find it to be a law that when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God in my inmost self, but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind, making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 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.

Reflect

Does this passage written by the Apostle Paul sound familiar? Yup! Me too!

Paul was wrestling with the incongruity of knowing in his heart what was right and wrong, wanting to do the right thing, but still ending up doing the wrong thing!

Coming to the conclusion that we cannot live up to God’s standards is a pre-requisite for accepting Jesus. How can we turn to a Saviour if we do not recognise we need saving?

I remember once, being a leader at a course that introduced people to Christianity. The first session was basically communicating that we are all sinners and fall short of God’s holiness. One of the attendees stood up, pushed his chair back, and exclaimed in a loud voice, “I’m a good person!” before he stormed out. I kinda get his frustration. No-one likes to be told they are not ‘good enough’ but the whole thrust of the gospel is that where we end, God begins. Yes, we are all created ‘good’ in the sense that creation is a good thing, but we are also painfully aware that we think things, say things, and do things that dishonour God, others, and disrespect God’s world.

I love how Paul finishes this part of his letter, “Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Amen to that!

A Christian is not someone who goes around self-flagellating or ‘beating themselves up’ but someone who simply recognises their own shortcomings, confesses them, and turns to God for help. I wonder if this is why Jesus said that we needed to be like ‘toddlers’ or ‘babies’ — totally dependent on a parent to lift us up.

At almost every Christian worship gathering there is a time of confession or an act of repentance, and to miss this out I think is a great shame, because it stops us covering up or ignoring our own need for God’s mercy, grace, and forgiveness.

We cannot earn our way into God’s good books, but we are so thankful that God stands with open arms waiting for us to turn and accept her love.

Today, may you, like a toddler, lift up your arms to God, and may she welcome you home.

Pray

Holy God
Forgive me for
putting myself first,
before you, others,
and the world around me.
Thank you for rescuing
me from myself,
and for welcoming me
into your loving arms.
This day and forever.