Romans
Verse Annotation
Verse 4-5 - We have been set free from the sinful passions that entangle us in a pursuit to death
Verse 6 - We are called to serve Christ in our newness, not in our old ways
Verse 13 - Sin can so work in us that even that which is good gets corrupted to produce the fruits of death
Verse 15 - May God give us the strength to do what is right
Verse 18 - Without the help of God, we cannot carry out these righteous ideals and duties we bear.
Verse 21 - When we seek to do what pleases God, that is when evil comes alive and is active to dismay us.
Verse 25 - May the decrees of God not only be a theory to us but a lifestyle and practical way of life.
Reflection
One of my favorite prayers in the History of the church is the prayer by St Augustine. St Augustine once prayed, God give me the strength to do that which you command me to do. He was so real for this. He came to a realization similar to Paul, who both realized that their flesh is weak and has fiery passions that inevitably lead to death. Even though Our Chains are broken and we’ve been set free, sin sought of seems to be more energetic the more we learn and desire to do that which is pleasing to God. This is our constant warfare; we cannot give any ground. We have seen many fall, and we have seen many die in sin. We certainly cannot go back to Egypt at this juncture.
It is very easy for the decrees of God to be like some old vintage thesis/dissertation on some high shelf. We may even make them really nice house decorations. Am sure most of us grew up with “rules of the house” hanging somewhere. Truth is, even though we hang all these encouraging and eternally impactful messages on all walls, it would still be foreign to us. We have to take the next action step; we have to internalize the commandments of God and make them our lifestyle. In that way, our body grows to naturally or naturally bend to the will of God.
Prayer
God, we thank you for the love you have shown us, the patience and grace you have extended to us even when we were lost. Jesus, we pray that you may give us the strength to do that which you command us to do, give us the strength to do that which is right. Help us not to just use your word as a decoration around our life, but may it change us in totality and renew us. Revive us God.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen
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