Through Jesus Christ

‘O wretched man that I am!  Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.  So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.’

Romans 7:24-25

Paul understood personal spiritual struggle.  The second half of Romans 7 shows us how deeply he struggled.  He speaks of the goodness of the law of God and of his own inability to keep it.  He is so bold as to say, ‘For what I will to do, that I do not practice, but what I hate, that I do.’  Paul was so frustrated by this internal conflict that he exclaimed, ‘O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from this body of death?’  Christ is the answer to Paul’s frustration.  He understood that the only spiritual success that he would experience would be through Christ.  Paul’s answer is our answer.  We have the same sorts of struggles as he had.  We know what is right, what we should do, how to speak and respond in various situations.  We cannot get there.  We often become frustrated because our spiritual desires do not match our ability to do the right things or have the right spirit.  Christ is the only answer to this frustration.  It is important that we understand who we are without Him, and what a difference He makes in our everyday experience.  He said, ‘Without me, you can do nothing.’  Therefore, every day we look to Christ. The greatest good we can do is to point you to Christ as well. 

Our Good and Wise God,
we rejoice that even though we struggle,
You set Christ ever before us.
We praise You that He is the Great Deliverer,
Who has redeemed us and will conform us to His Image.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning