So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law;  but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.  What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?  Thanks be to God–through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.  Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,  because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man,  in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.  ”  Romans 7:21-8:4

Phew!!!  Can any one say COMPLICATED!!!  Let’s see if we can look at it this way today….

Ever feel torn, unhappy, conflicted, desperate, disconnected with life, disqualified,  feel guilty for something but not sure why or what?  Perhaps this scripture may bring some light to the situation.  Perhaps you are  continuing to live according to the law of sin and death?  Remember when the 10 commandments were introduced….. they are what the scripture calls the law in the Bible.  This came as a way for people to become “righteous” through what they did, literally.  However, it really was a way for people to see their desperate need for a Savior.  When Jesus came, the law had perfectly showed the way to Him, it laid a path for Him, it rolled out the red carpet for the Real Star (if you will).  But now that the Star has come, we sometimes continue to look back at the law and look for a guide…..to what?  To merit what?  Now that the Lord Jesus has come, He is the way to complete reconciliation with God and in following Him, He produces an even greater standard in us by His Spirit!  When you accept Jesus into your heart, you live led by the Holy Spirit.  That means that you listen for His leading, you put your trust and faith in Him as your way to being okay with God, and you know that your salvation has come from what He has done for you, not what you can do for you.  This can be a hard concept to grasp in a “merit” oriented culture and with a “works” mindset and a fear that too much “Grace” will lead to rampant sin, but that is why He reassures us, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–  not by works, so that no one can boast.”  Ephesians 2:8 and “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God!  He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Cor. 15:56-57 and  Romans 6:14 says, “For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.^”  

Perhaps this has spoken to a desperate part of your heart today and you can relate.  Cry out to God today for His mercy.  Ask Him to help you come out from under this blanket of condemnation, control, and confusion and see Him face to face in His grace.  Ask Him to lead you down His path of grace, even though it may feel too easy…..(it really is meant to feel that way).  Ask Him to help you be less “sin and death” conscious and more “Jesus and His Power and Love for you” conscious.  Ask Him for a revelation of His love for you and ask Him to help you grasp everything that Jesus died to give you freely.  Now, release the stress, financial needs, sicknesses, conflicts, loneliness, isolation, fear, and pain to the lover of your soul today.  His grace is free, it is complete and it shall supply all of your needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus!