Scripture
Judges 1, Psalms 106:24-48, Romans 7
Observation / Application
I found two things in the first chapter of Judges. I never really focused on the fact that the Israelites had to tike the city of Jerusalem from someone I always pictured that the Israelites were the founders of the city. Second, it is crazy how many people and people groups that the Israelites did not drive out of the land of Judah. Just a few weeks earlier they had sworn to do all that God commanded them to do. They messed up again! SURPRISE! SURPRISE!Romans 7 is extremely heavy. When I was in high school I remember finding this passage and having several problem with it. Check it out.
Romans 7:15-18 ESV
15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.
16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good.
17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.
We I first found this passage in did not get what is meant. I saw this verse as saying that we are not responsible for our sins because sin dwells in us. I thought that the passage was using the brokenness of the world as a scapegoat. I was very young and idealistic at the time thinking that I could do good deeds and that I could not sin if I had chosen not to. This is a very hard concepts for people to get but it is at the core of the gospel. See Paul is saying that we are broken. WE ARE BROKEN AND THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT IT!!!! This is so hard to get. We all want to think that we are good. That we can get to heaven on our own good works but this is the opposite of the truth. We have no good in us and the only way we can get in is though Jesus. I am not saying that people who are not Christian can’t do good acts. We were all created in the image of God so we all have the desire to do good but it is only the fact that we were created in His image that we have the ability to do good act. But at the core of who we are we are broken and full of sin. See if we are apart form Christ our good act are not going towards the right thing. Even if we help someone out of love we are not helping them to bring glory to God. If it is not for the glory of God then it is for the glory of something else; ourselves, or our families name or our society, or a million other things.
Even when we become Christians there is still sin in us. Paul says that he does what he does not want to do. Even though we are Christians we are still in this world. Yes we are covered by the blood of Christ and are in right standing with God but we still sin. WHY? It is because when we are born we are born into a broken world full of sin. When we are reborn into Christ, He does not pull is out of this world. He desires for us to live in the world but not of it. He desires for us to spread His Kingdom. One day this world will be completely fixed but that time is not yet. God has allowed the world to remain broken for a time. Still to this day I do not fully under stand why God has allowed this world to remain broken. But I know that God id good and He has a plan. I think that it is wrapped up in 2nd Peter 3:9
2 Peter 3:9 ESV
(9) The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
Prayer
Father God, I love You! Thank You for Your salvation. Thank You for redeeming me. I know that even today I don’t have everything right open you eyes to your truth. Open you eyes to the fullness of your Kingdom. Give me sympathy fro the lost. Give me the courage and conviction to fulfill what you have for me to do here in this broken world. That you again for delivering me from my broken state and help me to do the thing that wish to do.
