Romans 13:8-9
'8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.9 The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”'
This blog is probably going to be super short tonight so sorry in advance lol.
Paul is saying that we should our love for others should be a continuing debt.
We should love others like we're paying a bill. I pay my credit card payments regularly, and (when I can) I pay more than the minimum payment. I do this to keep my build my credit score and as a result I can get approved for more credit (although it would be extremely unwise for me to take advantage of that).
I'll admit my financial habits aren't necessarily 'Dave Ramsey' approved but I guess loving others should be similar in some areas. We shouldn't love others out of obligation but we should love others regularly. I don't pay my credit cards whenever I feel like it, I pay them regularly. Also, just as there are benefits to paying my debts faithfully, there are benefits to 'paying' our love debt as well.
When we exceed the minimum payment by loving others more than they deserve, we become known for our ability to love others. And just like paying my bills gives me the ability to carry a larger balance and thus pay a larger debt, loving others faithfully gives us the ability to carry a bigger burden and love more people.
So, although digging myself deeper in financial debt would be stupid, digging my self deeper in my debt of loving others is a great idea.
This blog was short but I really enjoyed it. Thanks for reading.
-JDWayt
Friday, February 24, 2012
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Romans 12
Romans 12:1-2 (NIV84)
"1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship.
2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will. "
This blog is probably going to be a bit longer because this is my favorite chapter in Romans.
Paul is saying that everything we do should be done with God in mind. Since Jesus was merciful enough to give his life for us, it's only right that we would give ours back to him.
Verse 2 is one of my favorites. A lot of times I get so get caught up in American-Christian culture that I forget why I'm doing it. On Sunday's it's the same routine: Go to church, sing songs, eat lunch. I get so stuck in the routine of ministry that I forget why I'm serving in the first place.
I guess the biggest thing here is that we should be just as focused on God during our everyday activities as we are when we are doing things for Him.
I love the way The Message translation puts these two verses
Romans 12:1-2 (MSG)
"1 So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life-your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life-and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.2 Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you."
"Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking."
I think I'm going to have to work on this for a long time.
Romans 12:3-8 (NIV84)
" For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach;
8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. "
Basically we can't do it alone. I love the leaders in Under1. We all have different strengths and weaknesses. We all have different roles and tasks used to advance the Kingdom of God.
But I think these verses go beyond the local church setting. I believe that as the body of Christ we need to work together. I think churches themselves play different roles in God's plan.
Romans 12:9-21 (NIV84)
"9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
13 Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”says the Lord.
20 On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
We should sincerely love one another. Not because we have to but because the Holy Spirit has given us a love for people.
I love verse 16 "Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position."
We shouldn't be so concerned about our reputation that we stop loving the unloving.
It's easy to love our friends and our families and even people at our church. It's not as easy to love complete strangers, and it's even harder to love our enemies.
Probably the hardest thing for me to learn is that my enemies need Jesus too.
When I first got saved there was a volunteer in my youth group who I looked up to a lot. He got caught up in some stuff and ended up causing some pretty significant damage to our youth group.
I was let down and offended. I honestly hated him. I literally wanted him to die.
I held on to this hatred for years, until I brought it before God. God said this to me "No! You carry my righteousness now, you are my son and my children don't harbor hatred."
I had to let it go, I had to somehow forgive someone who the world would say was unforgivable.
Through a series of obvious acts of God I was actually able to talk to this guy again. It wasn't a long conversation but it contained the words that cut through my heart.
"I'm sorry"
The next day at church we played a song that contained a chorus that was just the words "There must be more". I kept thinking about his life and how much he was missing out. I began to cry and I started to pray fervently for someone who was my enemy.
I'm looking forward to a day when we get to talk again, I wan't him to know there's so much more.
I've already planned to go to Unceasing after I get off work tomorrow and I think I'm going to spend some time praying for those people who I find hard to love.
Well, there was a bit more openness in this blog than I had intended, but I think it's a good thing.
Thanks for reading!
-JDWayt
"1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship.
2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will. "
This blog is probably going to be a bit longer because this is my favorite chapter in Romans.
Paul is saying that everything we do should be done with God in mind. Since Jesus was merciful enough to give his life for us, it's only right that we would give ours back to him.
Verse 2 is one of my favorites. A lot of times I get so get caught up in American-Christian culture that I forget why I'm doing it. On Sunday's it's the same routine: Go to church, sing songs, eat lunch. I get so stuck in the routine of ministry that I forget why I'm serving in the first place.
I guess the biggest thing here is that we should be just as focused on God during our everyday activities as we are when we are doing things for Him.
I love the way The Message translation puts these two verses
Romans 12:1-2 (MSG)
"1 So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life-your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life-and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.2 Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you."
"Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking."
I think I'm going to have to work on this for a long time.
Romans 12:3-8 (NIV84)
" For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach;
8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. "
Basically we can't do it alone. I love the leaders in Under1. We all have different strengths and weaknesses. We all have different roles and tasks used to advance the Kingdom of God.
But I think these verses go beyond the local church setting. I believe that as the body of Christ we need to work together. I think churches themselves play different roles in God's plan.
Romans 12:9-21 (NIV84)
"9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
13 Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”says the Lord.
20 On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
We should sincerely love one another. Not because we have to but because the Holy Spirit has given us a love for people.
I love verse 16 "Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position."
We shouldn't be so concerned about our reputation that we stop loving the unloving.
It's easy to love our friends and our families and even people at our church. It's not as easy to love complete strangers, and it's even harder to love our enemies.
Probably the hardest thing for me to learn is that my enemies need Jesus too.
When I first got saved there was a volunteer in my youth group who I looked up to a lot. He got caught up in some stuff and ended up causing some pretty significant damage to our youth group.
I was let down and offended. I honestly hated him. I literally wanted him to die.
I held on to this hatred for years, until I brought it before God. God said this to me "No! You carry my righteousness now, you are my son and my children don't harbor hatred."
I had to let it go, I had to somehow forgive someone who the world would say was unforgivable.
Through a series of obvious acts of God I was actually able to talk to this guy again. It wasn't a long conversation but it contained the words that cut through my heart.
"I'm sorry"
The next day at church we played a song that contained a chorus that was just the words "There must be more". I kept thinking about his life and how much he was missing out. I began to cry and I started to pray fervently for someone who was my enemy.
I'm looking forward to a day when we get to talk again, I wan't him to know there's so much more.
I've already planned to go to Unceasing after I get off work tomorrow and I think I'm going to spend some time praying for those people who I find hard to love.
Well, there was a bit more openness in this blog than I had intended, but I think it's a good thing.
Thanks for reading!
-JDWayt
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Romans 11
Romans 11:16-20 (NIV84)
"16
If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.
17 If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root,18 do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.”20 Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid."
Basically Paul was talking to the Gentiles about how they shouldn't brag to the Jews that they now have the same salvation.
I really like what Paul says in verse 18. "You do not support the root, but the root supports you." This can be both humbling and reassuring.
The thing that makes it reassuring is the fact that I can't mess anything up. The fact that God allows me to use my gifts and abilities for Him is amazing.
I also like what Paul says in verse 20. "Do not be arrogant, but be afraid." Wow.
I guess I can be guilty of arrogant faith at times. When I do something for God it's easy to brag because I feel good about it. And there's nothing wrong with feeling good about being obedient, but when we do things to make ourselves look good it becomes a problem.
Well that's it tonight, I should probably get some sleep.
Tomorrow night is Romans 12!
Goodnight and thanks for reading,
-JDWayt
Romans 10
Romans 10: 8-13 (NIV84)
'8 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11 As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile–the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”'
Romans 10 is kind of short but it's still really good.
Everything here is pretty basic, our salvation changes us from the inside out. We believe in our hearts and we are made clean, we also confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord.
I guess it all just boils down to this, our actions are a result of what's in our hearts. If we believe that Jesus Christ is Lord, than our actions and our words will reflect that. Our words are important. How will anyone know what we believe if we don't proclaim it.
I guess I need to stop underestimating the importance of words.
Anyways I wish I had more tonight but I don't.
Thanks for reading anyway, JDWayt.
'8 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11 As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile–the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”'
Romans 10 is kind of short but it's still really good.
Everything here is pretty basic, our salvation changes us from the inside out. We believe in our hearts and we are made clean, we also confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord.
I guess it all just boils down to this, our actions are a result of what's in our hearts. If we believe that Jesus Christ is Lord, than our actions and our words will reflect that. Our words are important. How will anyone know what we believe if we don't proclaim it.
I guess I need to stop underestimating the importance of words.
Anyways I wish I had more tonight but I don't.
Thanks for reading anyway, JDWayt.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Romans 9
Romans 9
"16 It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden. 19 One of you will say to me: “Then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will?” 20 But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’ ” 21 Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?"
Romans 9 can be pretty tough to swallow. Since our relationship with God isn't based on anything we do. We can't get mad at God when we aren't being used the way we want to.
One thing I've learned recently is that God is all about God. God desires that HIS name and His name ALONE be glorified. Sometimes that isn't my focus when doing things for God. As a worship leader, it's easy to focus more on my musicianship and not my role as an usher to bring people in to the presence of God. When I lose sight of my real role as a greeter for God's presence, I get distracted by focusing on things like hitting/singing the right notes. Those things are important but they are not important enough to keep me from entering into worship.
Not only should God's glory be our number 1 focus, it should also be our number 1 desire. Since we can't boast in anything we do, we shouldn't get jealous when someone else receives earthly glory for something they do for God. God didn't call everyone to be rich, God didn't call everyone to be famous, God didn't call anyone to live for their own glory. John the Baptist said it best "He must increase and I must decrease."
Again, God's timing is perfect. As I'm typing this (it's currently 2:45am), I'm sitting by the front doors of my church with the responsibility to open them for anyone that wants to come in and pray. The only other person in the building is Bryan, the youth pastor, who is currently in the youth room praying to keep our 24/7 prayer week going. Neither of us are doing this to boast or get any recognition. We are doing it to bring glory to God.
I guess I've come to the realization that God doesn't care about my reputation as much as I do. When I become a youth pastor, I might have a youth group of 12 students, but if those 12 students are the ones God has instructed me to lead, then I will be satisfied with giving them everything I've got.
And I guess in the end, we all worship God as equals. In heaven we are all going to be praising Him, everyone from the Christian rock star to the guy who cleans the toilets at his church.
So, I guess I need to be more willing to be used by God for the sole purpose of bringing Him glory. I need to come before God and say "Here I am Lord, send me." Whatever it is that God has me do, no matter how big or small, His name will be glorified.
I guess that's it tonight,
Thanks for reading, JDWayt
"16 It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden. 19 One of you will say to me: “Then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will?” 20 But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’ ” 21 Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?"
Romans 9 can be pretty tough to swallow. Since our relationship with God isn't based on anything we do. We can't get mad at God when we aren't being used the way we want to.
One thing I've learned recently is that God is all about God. God desires that HIS name and His name ALONE be glorified. Sometimes that isn't my focus when doing things for God. As a worship leader, it's easy to focus more on my musicianship and not my role as an usher to bring people in to the presence of God. When I lose sight of my real role as a greeter for God's presence, I get distracted by focusing on things like hitting/singing the right notes. Those things are important but they are not important enough to keep me from entering into worship.
Not only should God's glory be our number 1 focus, it should also be our number 1 desire. Since we can't boast in anything we do, we shouldn't get jealous when someone else receives earthly glory for something they do for God. God didn't call everyone to be rich, God didn't call everyone to be famous, God didn't call anyone to live for their own glory. John the Baptist said it best "He must increase and I must decrease."
Again, God's timing is perfect. As I'm typing this (it's currently 2:45am), I'm sitting by the front doors of my church with the responsibility to open them for anyone that wants to come in and pray. The only other person in the building is Bryan, the youth pastor, who is currently in the youth room praying to keep our 24/7 prayer week going. Neither of us are doing this to boast or get any recognition. We are doing it to bring glory to God.
I guess I've come to the realization that God doesn't care about my reputation as much as I do. When I become a youth pastor, I might have a youth group of 12 students, but if those 12 students are the ones God has instructed me to lead, then I will be satisfied with giving them everything I've got.
And I guess in the end, we all worship God as equals. In heaven we are all going to be praising Him, everyone from the Christian rock star to the guy who cleans the toilets at his church.
So, I guess I need to be more willing to be used by God for the sole purpose of bringing Him glory. I need to come before God and say "Here I am Lord, send me." Whatever it is that God has me do, no matter how big or small, His name will be glorified.
I guess that's it tonight,
Thanks for reading, JDWayt
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Romans 8
Romans 8:26-27 (NIV84)
"26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will."
I'm posting this tonight because my tablet died yesterday so I had to wait until tonight to blog.
So anyway, I love Romans 8 a lot. Romans 8 talks about the Holy Spirit living in us.
God's timing is amazing because this week my church has an event this week called "Unceasing". It's where we get together and we pray 24/7 for the entire week. Our aim is to have at least one person in the youth room praying at all times.
We had leaders sign up for certain time slots for supervision. However, if there is no one else in the room the leaders are instructed to pray. As one of the younger leaders, I was obligated to take a graveyard shift from 12am-6am on Tuesday. Since I will more-than-likely be the only person there, I will probably be praying the whole time.
At first, I was pretty intimidated with the idea of praying for 6 straight hours in the middle of the night. After reading Romans 8 and seeing Paul talk about how the Spirit intercedes for us when we don't know what to pray, I know the Spirit will be willing even though my flesh will be weak.
Honestly, I'm really excited for it now. Like I really can't wait. I'm also excited to know that there are people there right now praying.
We kicked off "Unceasing" tonight with a praise and worship set. After praise and worship I had time so I prayed. I sat on one of the couches in the room and I only prayed one thing for like 20 minutes. I just thanked Him for everything. I began to just cry my eyes out just thinking about everything He's done in my life. In my heart there was a desire for God to understand how thankful I was. I also know that was the work of the Spirit in my life.
Well I wish I had more tonight. Tomorrow I will be posting from the church!
thanks for reading
-JDWayt!
"26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will."
I'm posting this tonight because my tablet died yesterday so I had to wait until tonight to blog.
So anyway, I love Romans 8 a lot. Romans 8 talks about the Holy Spirit living in us.
God's timing is amazing because this week my church has an event this week called "Unceasing". It's where we get together and we pray 24/7 for the entire week. Our aim is to have at least one person in the youth room praying at all times.
We had leaders sign up for certain time slots for supervision. However, if there is no one else in the room the leaders are instructed to pray. As one of the younger leaders, I was obligated to take a graveyard shift from 12am-6am on Tuesday. Since I will more-than-likely be the only person there, I will probably be praying the whole time.
At first, I was pretty intimidated with the idea of praying for 6 straight hours in the middle of the night. After reading Romans 8 and seeing Paul talk about how the Spirit intercedes for us when we don't know what to pray, I know the Spirit will be willing even though my flesh will be weak.
Honestly, I'm really excited for it now. Like I really can't wait. I'm also excited to know that there are people there right now praying.
We kicked off "Unceasing" tonight with a praise and worship set. After praise and worship I had time so I prayed. I sat on one of the couches in the room and I only prayed one thing for like 20 minutes. I just thanked Him for everything. I began to just cry my eyes out just thinking about everything He's done in my life. In my heart there was a desire for God to understand how thankful I was. I also know that was the work of the Spirit in my life.
Well I wish I had more tonight. Tomorrow I will be posting from the church!
thanks for reading
-JDWayt!
Friday, February 17, 2012
Romans 7
I need to stop doing these so late! Lol
Romans 7:21-25
"21 So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23 but I see another law at work in the members of 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. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 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."
Here Paul addresses a big issue. If I am free from sin, and I now have the ability to live for God, how come I still sin?
That's a pretty tough question. Paul goes as far as to call himself a "wretched man" because he still struggles with sin. I know that I constantly have to battle my sinful nature. Like Paul, in my mind I want to do good but my flesh constantly wants to do evil.
There are two things I like to think about when it comes to this issue.
First, God offers second (and third, and fourth, etc) chances. I know that since I have been saved I can genuinely ask for forgiveness and 'He is faithful and just to forgive'. I have to remember that it's a constant fight until the end.
Second, I have to realize the importance of inward sin. I think as humans we tend to focus more on outward sin than we do on inward sin. People don't want to steal, but they are ok with coveting. People don't want to murder, but they are fine with harboring hatred in their hearts. I am included in this generalization. A lot of times I focus more on outward sin because that's what other people see. In reality, changing my heart to be more like Christ will change my actions to be more like Christ.
Well I guess that's it tonight, thanks for reading!
-JD-Wayt.
Romans 7:21-25
"21 So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23 but I see another law at work in the members of 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. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 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."
Here Paul addresses a big issue. If I am free from sin, and I now have the ability to live for God, how come I still sin?
That's a pretty tough question. Paul goes as far as to call himself a "wretched man" because he still struggles with sin. I know that I constantly have to battle my sinful nature. Like Paul, in my mind I want to do good but my flesh constantly wants to do evil.
There are two things I like to think about when it comes to this issue.
First, God offers second (and third, and fourth, etc) chances. I know that since I have been saved I can genuinely ask for forgiveness and 'He is faithful and just to forgive'. I have to remember that it's a constant fight until the end.
Second, I have to realize the importance of inward sin. I think as humans we tend to focus more on outward sin than we do on inward sin. People don't want to steal, but they are ok with coveting. People don't want to murder, but they are fine with harboring hatred in their hearts. I am included in this generalization. A lot of times I focus more on outward sin because that's what other people see. In reality, changing my heart to be more like Christ will change my actions to be more like Christ.
Well I guess that's it tonight, thanks for reading!
-JD-Wayt.
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