Photo by Fellipe-Ditadi on Unsplash
We have all experienced it. It can be very tense, a battle in your mind; do you surrender or hang on to it (whatever “it” is)?
The Apostle Paul wrestled with it (which puts us in good company). He takes nearly two chapters to write about in the New Testament book of Romans.
However, chew on this for a moment.
“I realize that I don’t have what it takes. I can will it, but I can’t do it.
I decide to do good, but I don’t really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway.
My decisions, such as they are, don’t result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.”
Romans 7:18-20 The Message
In other words, I want to do right, but there is the (strong) urge in me (that often pulls me) to do the wrong thing.
This is a natural part of human nature. The Apostle Paul admits to struggling with it, and (as I mentioned in my previous story) Jesus struggled with it.
This is of profound importance because one of the (many) lies of the adversary (the devil) is to make you think you are in something alone.
The creator struggled with it in his human form, and the man credited with writing about two-thirds of the New Testament books of the Bible also struggled with it.
It isn’t an excuse (although some use it as such) but a reality of the challenges of a Christ-follower’s life.
In the language of the King James Version, the Apostle Paul says this:
“O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?”
Romans 7:24 The King James Version
The Message translates the verse this way:
“I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn’t that the real question?”
Romans 7:24 The Message
How often have you felt at the end of your rope? I hope you find encouragement in the fact that the Apostle Paul felt the same way.
At the very least, these two stories (Jesus and Paul) are enough ammunition to silence the adversary’s (lying) voice.
“Is there anyone who can do anything for me?”
The apostle asks a rhetorical question because he knows the answer is Jesus. However, it is a necessary question because it acknowledges your need for help.
In other words, I acknowledge that I cannot do this alone.
If you listen (allow me a bit of humor), you will hear the Apostle Paul say, “Good, because you don’t have to.”
“The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.”
Romans 7:25 The Message
Where surrender meets the Word of God
The apostle continues his train of thought in Romans 8.
“With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ’s being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud.
A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death.”
Romans 8:1-2 The Message
The Christ-follower has a “new power” at their disposal. It is the Spirit (God the Holy Spirit) of life in Christ and accomplishes two purposes.
First, it empowers you to stand up and resist the uncontrollable urge to give in. It is a supernatural ability within you, empowering you to do things you are otherwise too weak to do.
The second purpose of this “new power” is to offer you forgiveness when you yield to the urge, allowing it to win (this time).
Either way, you (the Christ-follower) cannot lose.
Of course, the goal is to win more times than you lose, but the reality is Jesus is there no matter the outcome of your challenge.
So, what do you do when you will stand between you and surrender to God?
You rejoice that you have a strong savior who is for you and ready (through the power of God the Holy Spirit) to overcome any obstacle.
Or,
You rejoice that shed blood of Jesus is sufficient to forgive you of your sins and shortcomings.
The journey is exciting and scary, and I am thankful for everyone who is willing to accompany me on it.
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