A Devotional Study of the Living Word of God

Psalm 119:118 All of us like sheep that stray, have at a time or two gone astray. We do not go far. But there are those who mock your statues. These are friends in our feasts and fellowships – but like all phonies, they are rejected.

Good Morning

In my first four years in the Navy I had the experience of serving with a real sailor's, sailor. He was a man in his late thirties with an acute case of jaundice. The disease had crippled him so that he sort of waddled when he walked and he looked very old. I called him a pirate, but he convinced me that compared to Peg Leg the pirate, Peg Leg was a mild mannered man. His eyes were yellow with jaundice and his face was always twisted in anger. All of us young sailors were afraid of him. In those days to get married a sailor would have to get permission from their leading Petty Officer. So here I was seeking permission from this Boatswain Mate to marry. He said, “Abel, I got one question for you. Are you in looove”? I said, “I think so sir”. His reply, “Boy, get out of my sight before I rip your head off and always let your pants cool off from out of the dryer before you put them on. Don't ask me again to get married until you know what your doing.” Of course his words were mixed with expletives that only men like him can say and still make sense. About a week later he gave me permission to get married and he even showed up at the reception for a short time.

Romans 7

Romans 7:13-25 The context of this section is so important, the fact is that the whole of Romans 7 is directed to help us understand the critical sinful nature of the natural man. Remember we are looking at sanctification. Biblical sanctification is being able to live a holy life, separated from the natural ambitions of sin and living under the calling of God to be obedient to the law even though the law cannot save us from committing sin. Apart from the law we do not have a way to recognize what sin looks like, but once the law reveals sin, it also reveals death.

So the law then is the “spiritual standard” to live by, but I am of the flesh and live by the “flesh standard” my flesh is sold on this idea of serving the needs of the flesh. I have trouble understanding my condition, I do things that I hate to do and practice a form of self-righteous balance to appease my conscious. I have no problem to agree that the law is good, but since nothing in my flesh is good, I find it impossible to be good in all things that I practice. So I find within myself two opposing laws. One to do evil and one to do good.

I do delight in the Law of God, but this other law seeks to captivate me, it is the law of sinful flesh and the power of this law brings me back to captivity and once again I am wretched. I cry out, oh who can guide me to be holy? “Guide me, O Thou Great Jehovah, Pilgrim through this barren land; I am weak, but Thou art mighty; Hold me with Thy powerful Hand; Strong Deliverer, Strong Deliverer”. Be Thou STILL my strength and shield.