Thoughts for another day

April 26, 2007

Today's verse: Rom. 7:24. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

This statement of Paul, though shocking, is yet a sincere admission of his own spiritual bankruptcy before the Most High. When the Spirit of God touches us and makes us realize how ‘inable’ we are and then when we search within us for that one thing that may somehow make us look a little worthy before the Only Worthy One, and we find nothing, it really shakes us up.

When our souls yield to God and enjoy His fellowship, an internal war erupts. The battle of the flesh with the spirit. We understand there is a mismatch between what we are and what we ought to be before God. We fail to understand why we do something not right in the sight of God. An experience most of us have is: why did we consciously do that which was displeasing to God? Facing this question is a daunting task because before us we have the loving face of the Father and the bloodstained, disfigured body of our Lord Jesus. It is as if They seem to ask, ‘Why, My child do you do this when We love you so much?’ Like they say, there are some truths difficult to face and this really stings the heart.

Paul is heavily stung by the wretchedness he faces in himself. He realizes that the flesh is deathly and subject to death. He knows his wretchedness can be attributed to sin in his flesh. He looks for redemption and his heart is heavy. But then he rejoices over the fact that Jesus Christ has made it possible for him to get out of his melancholy and be freed from the shackles of sin by His enduring and abundant sacrifice. My friend this truth applies to all; for the merits of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ have been extended to each and every human who ever walked or is destined to walk, the face of this earth.

If today, your heart is wearied by your own shamefulness before God, take heart, for He has taken your shame and clothed you with His glory. Heaven is your right and rejoicing your nature. Like Paul you can say, I thank God through our Lord Jesus, for giving me the privilege of being a citizen of heaven.