DEVOTION// Rescued by Grace

There is nothing more depressing than wanting to do good, but just not being able to do it.

We cry out with Paul, “Who will deliver me from this body of death?” There is only one answer: “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:25). Jesus rescues us. We have complete victory over our sinful nature through Jesus Christ. We have done nothing. Christ has done everything. Though we sin daily, He continues to forgive and restore us.

Grace is the answer

If you’ve ever worked on an addiction for yourself or someone else, you know that the answer to the addiction is not just to try harder or remove the temptation or have more self-control. The answer for our addiction must come from outside ourselves.

The answer for sin addiction does not come from inside of us. It comes from God. 

• The first step to getting help is to follow Paul’s example. Rip off the veneer of your fake Christianity. Admit to God that you don’t have it all together. Confess your sin. Admit your inability to control your life. 
• Then, ask God for help. And, you know what? God has already helped you! He has sent you Jesus. The answer to your misery is not found in your attempts at perfection. Your answer is always and only found in the perfect life of Jesus Christ.

Grace has done what we could not

There is a huge burden off your shoulders once you focus on Christ’s perfection instead of your own failures. Jesus lived a perfect life. He kept all of God’s good laws. Paul said that the problem was not in God’s laws but in our inability to keep them (Romans 7:22-23).

Because we could not keep God’s laws, Jesus did it for us. He traded His perfection for our addictions. He gave us His righteousness to cover over our sinfulness. The burden of perfection has been taken off your shoulders forever. Now, Jesus gives you the Holy Spirit to live within you. The Holy Spirit is going to do battle inside of you against your sinful nature. You do have good inside of you – good that will allow you to do good for God’s kingdom. This is a good that comes only from God.

Grace gives victory

Now we face the daily struggle of living a life of thanks to God. Let’s be honest, it isn’t easy. Sometimes we will enjoy success. Other times, we will fall short. Sometimes we’ll act like the saints God created us to be. Other times, we’ll appear more like the spawn of Satan.

But don’t live in misery. Live in peace. Your sinful nature doesn’t define you any longer. Having the Holy Spirit living inside of you as a Christian is now what defines you.

Do you have sin with which you struggle? Take heart. Jesus has already won the victory. Christ offers you strength for your daily battle and hope for the future. All this is so because Jesus Christ has already rescued you from your body of death.

Source: Michael Zarling, I've had an epiphany!