Wednesday Check-In

---

Image via Wikipedia

I have enjoyed talking to some of you about last Sunday’s sermon. I’ve been really blessed by people’s realness, sharing that it has been hard to stop sinful ways. They want to stop, but lack the knowledge on how to stop.
It is good to know that Paul struggled with the same thing Look at his words to the Roman Christians, “So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. I have discovered this principle of life-that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.” (Romans 7:14-25, NLT)

Paul struggled like us. He even cried out, Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? I’ve seen people who love God, but are miserable because of the sin in their life and rightly so. Yet they can’t seem to break the sinful cycle.
God’s word is God’s word…He means what he commands. We are to lay aside our old ways. There is no one without excuse. No one can say, he doesn’t mean me.

So, is there an answer? Yes! Paul goes on to say, “Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord…” He knew that he could place his life, his whole life, into Jesus’ care. Jesus is able to change our ways. Let’s look to Him.

Will Dungee

Last Sunday, I talked about the clip, “Stop It”, from Mad TV. It stars Bob Newhart and Mo Collins. It is great for a laugh. Enjoy.

---