Reading through the letter to the Romans feels like one continuous sermon, at least so far. It is something one has to read slowly and maybe even backtrack to keep the thread of the thoughts before moving forward once again.
It feels like it is difficult to comment upon but it is interesting as it is causing one to use ones' full concentration. It's a letter one really needs to read through for oneself, too.
It gives life and hope and greater understanding even if one can only grasp tidbits with ones' fingertips. But thank God we can begin to understand this new way of life through the Holy Spirit helping us to live by the Spirit and to serve the Lord, not by following a set of rules (although they are good rules) but
"to do so through keeping in step with the Holy Spirit" (see Romans 7:6 ESV).
In this way we can be fed with the meat of the word of God and
"delight in the law of God, in [our] inner being" ( vs 21).
And do you ever feel wishy-washy or yo-yo like? First you feel like you can do this Christian life of discipline with the Lord's strength and then you fail?
It's good to know that a stalwart mighty man of God like the Apostle Paul was battling this struggle too. But it wasn't really that he or we are yo-yo's. He explained it like this,
" ... but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members" (Romans 7:23 ESV).
Paul despairs some, but then gives God thanks, that through Jesus Christ our Lord we get help. He acknowledges that he serves,
" ... the law of God with [his] mind, but with [his] flesh [he] serves the law of sin" (Romans 7:25 ESV).
And then we get the breath of fresh air as we skip into Romans 8 ...
We are no longer condemned by this, at least for those of us who are "in Christ Jesus".
We have been set free through the Spirit of life in Christ. Thus when we keep in step more consciously, as we walk humbly in the fear of the Lord, we are empowered to choose to walk aright, despite the struggle. May God's Word and His Spirit shape our mind, heart and life.
Lord, help us all. Amen.
~ ERC April 2026 ~
Based on Romans 7 especially vs 6, 23-25 ESV.
Sing, Yet Not I But Through Christ in Me, along with City Alight.
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