Draw Near – 365 Guides to Greater Intimacy with GodSample

VICTORIOUS LIVING

Dr. Freda Kehm tells of the seven-year-old who complained, "How come I always get blamed for everything I do?" The child psychologist adds that at this age a child is very conscious of "being blamed." Feelings of guilt are not confined to seven-year-olds. All of us struggle with them. Even Paul the apostle complained: For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice (Romans 7:19). This poignant verse captures the plight of mortal man: his eternal struggle against evil.

If Paul experienced these two natures pulling against each other, so does every other Christian. Indeed evil is ever with us, and usually we are blamed for everything we do. Does this mean that we cannot live above sin? No! Paul added that Jesus Christ is the answer to the problem, and when He lives in our hearts, He takes over and lives through us. Paul could then say: There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit (Romans 8:1).

We are often tempted to do evil. Within ourselves, we cannot possibly resist. Yet when Christ takes over, He breaks the bonds of lust, passion, and pride and makes us servants of righteousness. No longer do we need despair, burdened by the weight of sin. We can indeed become "free" and live as God intended, no longer pulled down by fleshly passions. The struggle ends at Calvary.