In fact, I don’t understand why I act the way I do. I don’t do what I know is right. I do the things I hate.16 Although I don’t do what I know is right, I agree that the Law is good.17 So I am not the one doing these evil things. The sin that lives in me is what does them…
What a miserable person I am. Who will rescue me from this body that is doomed to die?25 Thank God! Jesus Christ will rescue me. Romans 7:15-17, 24-25 (CEV)
A holiday weekend is coming up and along the Gulf Coast the traffic and the people are too numerous to count! I saw a car with its hood open and hazard lights flashing, pulled over to the side of the road with the occupants a few feet away under a tree waiting for a tow truck or some other help. Who will battle all that traffic to rescue them? Not a happy beginning to their holiday fun!
Chapter 7 of Romans has been the passage in all of Paul’s epistles that gives me a chuckle every time I read it. Paul the prolific author surely wound his way around a maze to get to his point, didn’t he?
I do NOT know why I do what I do. I hope you are not like me. I truly hope you do not have a reoccurring sin that plagues you. If you have seen a picture of me, then you know my sin. I love to eat. I have the sin of gluttony.
I AM glad that God’s Laws point out my sin. What Commandment or Law of God speaks of gluttony? “You shall have NO other gods before Me!” (Exodus 20:3) Yes, #1 Commandment. Instead of turning to God when I feel sad, depressed, frustrated, lonely, or even happy, I turn to food. Instead taking in God’s comfort, I take in food for comfort. And that is putting something else in front of God. I am grateful that God’s Law points out my sin, because it also points out His great love for me. God wants me to be healthy and well-loved. The world isn’t always kind to people who are obese. Most doctors treat obese people like they do smokers. “Come back and see me when you have kicked your habit.”
I AM MISERABLE! Who can help me change? I am miserable. Who will help me? It has taken me 10 years to get it. I have spent a lot of time talking to God about this and I have heard His voice of honest encouragement and I can tell the difference when Satan starts in with his condemning, tearing-me-down chanting!
I don’t have to beg God to help me. He heard the cry of my heart and is right with me before I even finish my sentence. He has the plan and it totally involves Him with me every step of the way.
The victory over my sin is not dependent on my strength or my knowledge. All I have to do is ask for help. No sin is too awful or too big because Jesus has already made the perfect blood sacrifice to wipe out the power of sin in my life. His yoke, that links us together, to walk in unison each day, is easy and the burden – well it is light! (Matthew 11:30) So my weight is already lighter, isn’t it?!! God will bring me closer to Him with His unconditional, without-limit love. The sweetness of His love is so much more satisfying than a Whataburger or fudge brownie! Fill me up with Your Love, LORD!
Draw Me Close to You written by Kelly Carpenter & sung by Michael W Smith
