Dead Elephant In The Room

“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do, but what I hate, I do. . . . As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.” (Romans 7:15, 17)

Jesus slaughtered sin on the cross. But sin’s dead carcass still occupiers a lot of living space, and it stinks to high heaven. Like the elephant in the room that no one wants to talk about, it exercises a powerful influence over everything. It is a powerful rival to righteousness.
I resonate with Paul’s lament in Romans 7. Just when I think I have gained victory over some sinful response, I get a powerful whiff of death again. Reeling and gagging, I too often find myself doing the very thing I said I wouldn’t do. And I hate it.
Hating is a good start, because God hates it too. His Holy Spirit is called “holy” (set apart, consecrated to God) for a reason. And he always stands ready to help me get back on my feet for another round. We may be down, but we are not out. God has promised us all the help we need to achieve victory over sin. If we ask His Spirit, He will disarm the beast within us. He will drain the life out of our sinful habits, one by one.
Many people get frustrated in their efforts to follow Jesus. They’re trying as hard as they can to “get it right,” and they don’t understand why they are having such a hard time. They determine again to be faithful, and hate themselves for being so inconsistent. One person sent me an e-mail recently that read, “Thanks so much for this challenge to go from fan to follower. I am trying every day to become a follower of Jesus.” I appreciated that, but I can tell you that he is going to fail because “trying every day” simply isn’t enough. Changing just one word in that e-mail would make all the difference in the world. It needs to read, “I am DYING every day to become a follower of Jesus.”

DENYING TODAY
Read Romans 7:15-25. In what areas of your life can you identify with Paul? What good do you want to do, but don’t? What sin do you want to distance yourself from, but can’t? Write them down, if you dare. Then surrender your list to God in prayer, thanking Him for rescuing and delivering you through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 7:25).