BIBLE PASSAGE:
I do not understand what I do.
For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
(Romans 7:15)
MEDITATION:
There is a battle raging for control of our minds.
Think about how that battle is affecting you personally.
Have you ever had feelings that you are a wretched person?
When you compare your life to the Lord’s expectations,
do you feel you are falling way short of the goal?
If your answer to these questions is, “Yes”, then you are not alone.
Look at how Paul had some of the same struggles you might be having.
In his heart, he wanted to “do good”, but there was an evil darkness
that kept competing for control of his mind, heart, actions, and soul.
This opposition to goodness made him feel that he was a prisoner to its control.
So I find this law at work: Although 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 me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the
law of sin at work within me. (Romans 7:21-23)
Paul felt the same desperation you might be experiencing in your own life.
This raging battle of good and evil caused Paul to be disappointed
with himself and feel as though he was a wretched person.
We can see his strong desire to break free of sin’s dominating force in his life.
What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me
from this body that is subject to death? (Romans 7:24)
Thankfully, Paul realized that he was not equipped
to win this battle in his own strength.
He knew that only divine help from the Lord would make him victorious.
Paul knew that he had a natural desire to sin, but he was determined to
defeat this tendency by allowing the Lord to gain control of his mind.
Why? Because he knew that sin originates in the mind and to defeat sin,
his ‘control center’ needed to be regulated by the Lord.
Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then,
I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave
to the law of sin. (Romans 7:25)
When his mind was under the control of the Lord,
he could rejoice in knowing that he would have a new Spirit.
With this new Spirit, he could find freedom (“no condemnation”)
from the overwhelming guilt he was experiencing as a result of sin.
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set
you free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1-2)
How could he know if he had a new Spirit?
All he had to do was to assess his desires – if he wanted to live
in agreement with the Spirit’s desire, then he could be confident
that a new Spirit was alive and healthy in his life.
Additionally, if he had a desire to please God over pleasing himself,
then a new Spirit was in control of his mind.
We can have the spirit of the flesh, or the spirit of God,
and there is a distinct difference between the two.
Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh
desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set
on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the
mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh
is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who
are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:5-8)
After Paul received a new Spirit, he issued a warning to all people that without
the Spirit of God in their lives, they could not claim they belong to Christ.
Salvation is a transformation in the lives of people and not ‘business as usual’.
When we belong to Christ, we will have the Spirit of God.
You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of
the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does
not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. (Romans 8:9)
Paul also reminded people that when we belong to Christ,
we have an obligation to live by His Spirit.
If we do not have a feeling of obligation to live ‘according to the Spirit’,
then we have not ‘put to death’ the ‘misdeeds’ of our natural desires.
For some of us, it may be a slow process, but if we truly want the Lord’s Spirit
living in us, then we need to be actively pursuing the death of our natural desires.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh,
to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if
by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.
(Romans 8:12-13)
Paul wants us to understand the benefits of the transformation
of submitting our minds to the control of the Spirit of God.
The word ‘obligation’ can cause some to ‘shrink back’ but when we
know of the associated benefits, we should have a desire to commit.
When we think of the glory Christ is experiencing right now,
and realize that we can have that same glory, it should motivate even
the most reluctant person to obligate themselves to a new life committed to God.
Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs
with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may
also share in his glory. (Romans 8:17)
When we transition to the Spirit’s control of our minds and obligate ourselves
to His control and His desires for us, then we are showing our love for God.
And, we are told that when we love Him, He is at work in our lives
causing good things to happen from any circumstance,
and calling us to a specific purpose in His earthly ministry.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,
who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he
also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the
firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also
called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
(Romans 8:28-30)
ACTION:
The question we have to ask ourselves is, “Who is in control of our mind?”
If we are in control,
then the desires of our flesh remains and we are on a death march.
However, if the Spirit is in control,
then we have a new joy and a desire to serve the Lord.
Have you made a specific commitment to the Lord?
It can be a daunting task to identify areas of obligations in our own lives.
If you are struggling with finding an area of commitment,
try starting with obedience to God’s command to tithe.
Be honest and tell God that you may be reluctant and
not give joyfully initially, but because He commands it, you will ‘give it a try’.
You may not experience the joy of giving at first because Satan wants to control
your mind and cause you to focus on what you could be doing with God’s 10%.
However, once the Spirit seizes control from Satan, you will learn how to enjoy
the 90% God allows you to keep, and gladly return to Him what He asks of you.
Satan demands that we please ourselves,
but God commands that we please Him.
Satan wants us to focus on the wants we don’t have,
but God wants us to be thankful for our needs that He provides.
Satan wants us to selfishly withhold from God,
but God wants us to prove our love, faith, and trust in Him.
Satan wants our lives centered on us,
but God wants us to think about, and encourage others.
Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for providing for all my needs. Thank
You for Your promises to those who belong to Christ. I pray for Your
help as I commit to allowing the Holy Spirit to seize control of my mind,
heart, and soul. I know that when He is in control, I will have a greater
appreciation for my ‘needs’ which You fulfill, and I will be less focused
on the ‘wants’ I may not have.”
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