ALL
WE NEED TO KNOW
READ:
Romans
7:18-25
For
I know that in me (that is,
in
my flesh) nothing good dwells
-Romans
7:18
In a Fernando Ortega rendition of “Just As I Am,” Bill Graham’s voice can
be heard faintly in the background. Dr.
Graham is reminiscing about an illness during which he believed he was
dying. As he mused on his past, he
realized what a great sinner he was and how much he continues to need God’s
daily forgiveness.
Billy Graham was putting an end to the
notion that apart from God we’re okay.
We can feel good about ourselves, but that confidence must come from the
knowledge that we’re greatly loved children on God (John 3:16), not that we’re
very good children (Romans 7:18).
The first step in becoming a truly “good” person as a follower of Christ is
to stop pretending that we’re good on our own and to ask God to make us as good
as we can be. We will fail many times,
but He will keep growing us and changing us.
God is faithful and-in His time and in His way-He’ll do it.
In his final years, the writer of “Amazing Grace,” John Newton, suffered
from dementia and lamented the loss of his memory. Yet he confided, “I do remember two things: I am
a great sinner, and Jesus is a great Savior.”
When it comes to faith, those are the only things anyone needs to
know. –David Roper
The
Lord has promised good to me,
His
word my hope secures;
He
will my shield and portion be
As
long as life endures. –Newton
*****************************************
God’s
grace accepted is God’s peace experienced.
INSIGHT
The
Christian life is one of struggle with sin and growth in holiness. On this side of heaven, we will not be totally
freed from this struggle (James 3:2; 1 John 1:8-2:1). In today’s text, the apostle Paul writes of
the war between good and evil that wages within him. Elsewhere Paul explains, “For the flesh
desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the
flesh. They are in conflict with each
other, so that you are not to do whatever you want’ (Galatians 5:17 NIV). Yet we can take comfort in the fact that
Jesus delivers us from this “body of
death” (Romans 7:24).
Have a blessed day and week ahead.
God Our Creator’s Love Always.
Unity & Peace
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