Have Thine own way, Lord, Have Thine own way;
Search me an try me, Master, today.

Whiter than snow, Lord, Wash me just now,
As in Thy presence Humbly I bow.

Have Thine own way, Lord, Have Thine own way;
Hold o’er my being Absolute sway

Fill with Thy Spirit Till all shall see
Christ only always Living in me

–

Can I be honest? I really don’t want to marinate in Romans 7.

Sure, I acknowledge the truths there—the battle between my spirit and my flesh, the knowledge that I’m not ok, that I need rescue—but I want to move quickly to all the better news, the solutions and victory that we’ll see in Romans 8 and other places. To go deep there. But Paul gives a lot of ink here to this struggle. He restates the war between the flesh and the Spirit several different ways in this chapter, to make sure we get it.

  • Sin (in me) produces wrong desires (in me) (v 8)
  • Sin deceived me (v 11)
  • I do not have the power to do what is good (v 18)
  • My delight in God’s law is attacked by the law at work in my body (v 23)
  • I am worn out and need rescue! (v 24)

I want to move on because I don’t want to be reminded of my poverty before God, of my forever need to accept God’s grace and bow to His ways in all things at all times. I don’t want to be reminded that I can’t power myself to be good. I don’t want to look into this mirror that shows that I still have a sin nature.

But I need to hear this truth. To sit in it a while.

Sit in it with me. Sit in it from the rock-solid security of being justified through faith in Christ without fear of condemnation. Contemplate it in the same way that we contemplated the weight of Jesus’ sacrifice on Good Friday, even as we knew Resurrection was coming.

Invite the Spirit in, from the song lyrics above, or your own heart’s cry.

Yes, we will get to all the good news, the victory, the blessings. Today, sit tight with the Lord in Chapter 7 and thank Him for His presence and power.

Questions for reflection and discussion:

  • Are you paying attention to the battle inside you?
  • When are you most vulnerable to giving in to your own desires?
  • Which side are you feeding? Pay careful attention today to the Spirit’s voice.

Church Reading Plan: Proverbs 21; Colossians 4