M-G: 5.9.11 // Up to No Good, Romans 7:18, GNB

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Truthfully, the more I try to be like Christ the more aware I am of my own sinfulness. If Christ lives within you, you know exactly what I mean (Rom 7:22-23)! Forgiven, but oh what a dirty business is this struggle with the sin nature. As for my Christ-likeness, there are traces here and there with boughs that should be heavy laden but nearly bare of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23; Eph 5:9), making my soul most wretched. Oh, that the Spirit would breath on me and anoint me with fresh oil (Psa 92:10)!

I fear my own sin nature for it is up to no good and knows no grace. It constantly encourages me to give in to its desires in reckless abandon with no thought of the condemnation and guilt that are sure to follow! Often I run to Romans 7:24a because I am reminded that misery loves company. The great relief, and one I am truly thankful for, is the truth that greater is the Holy Spirit within me than my adversary in the world (1Jn 4:4); but in reality, grieving the Holy One (Eph 4:30) is not a lost art with my soul nor yours if you are honest with yourself.

To be holy as He is holy (1 Pet 1:15-16) is not a singular or an occasional act but a lifestyle for life. It’s a painful journey for sure (Lk 9:23) but fraught with the blessings of God (Rom 8:28; Jas 2:5; 1 Cor 2:9). Would to God that we would be so decreased of self that He would be magnified in us as we perfect our imperfections toward holiness. Critics come and go, but we should never stop seeking to know Him (Php 3:10; 2 Pet 3:18) that when others look our way they see two people walking (Lev 26:12; Amos 3:3) instead of one. 

If I had to do it all over again on that cold January day in Florida years ago, I would make the same decision to follow Christ regardless of the struggle and the opposition to the things of God by the world, the flesh, and the devil. But all we can do is stand upon the promises of God to see us through this good, clean, fulfilling, and gratifying business of being holy even though that desire meets with repeated resistance from within and without this side of eternity. Paul asked this rhetorical question in Rom 7:24b,

“Who will deliver me from this body of death?”

The answer could not be sweeter for it was the answer to my soul’s deepest need in my winter of discontent,

“I thank God – through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Rom 7:25a

"No man knows how bad he is until he has tried to be good." -- CS Lewis  <><