I don’t know about you, but growing up I loved the merry-go round. It was always so much fun. However, now that I am older, the merry-go round and I don’t get along. Of course, the merry-go round represents not only fun for kids, but also a painful truth at times. You can go as fast as you want, for as long as you want; however, in the end you will get off at the same place you got on. The treadmill is the adult version of the merry-go round. It’s one thing if you are on a merry-go round for fun. However, it represents a lot of our life at times doesn’t it? We try to make changes, and we will do well for a while, but it seems like we always fall back into the same ruts as before. The apostle Paul wants to let you know how you can get off that merry-go round of frustration. Romans 7:24-25 says, “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God–through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.”
Earlier in Romans 7, Paul talked about how the things he should do, he didn’t do. But the things he shouldn’t do, he did those things. He sums it up in the opening of verse 24, “O wretched man that I am!” I can just hear the screams of frustration in his words, can’t you? However, Paul knew where his victory came from. It came from Jesus Christ! Paul is talking about the futility of trying to be good enough or do enough good for God to save you. Paul is saying that it is impossible. We might do well for a time, but in the end, if Jesus hasn’t saved us then we will fall right back into the same routine. However, through Jesus, we can have victory over the power of sin in our life. Through His blood, we already have victory over the penalty of sin. Jesus took our penalty on the cross. As we are saved, the Holy Spirit comes to live inside of us, and He does the work of changing us as Paul talks about in Romans 8. Paul is telling us, you can get off that merry-go round of frustration. Simply, submit your life to the power of God, and allow Him to work in you, and to change you. If we depend on ourselves, we will end up doing what feels good, and what we want to do. However, if we submit ourselves to God every day, He will continue the process of changing us, and giving us victory. As I heard in a song one time, we don’t fight for victory, we fight from victory. The victory has already been given to us. Therefore, it’s not about trying harder, it’s about submitting and surrendering more. May God help you to experience this victory as you surrender and submit to Him daily.
By His grace and for His glory,
Pastor Justin