Day 43 "Released from The Law to Live by The Spirit" (Romans: Chapter Seven)

It's enjoyable to me to watch a bird gliding effortlessly upon the currents of the wind. No obstacles in the way to maneuver around. The wind providing ample support to stay afloat.

Without the struggling, there is time for the bird to look around and take in the scenery.

Unlike the bird floating above, I would say our lives are anything but effortless. Our minds seem to be in a constant state of thinking about something. If we are students, we are cramming and studying for knowledge and good grades to make it on to college. When in college, we are preparing for our careers, In our careers, we turn our attention towards finding a mate, someone to share our life's journey with. Then, finding a home. Starting a family. Saving for retirement. Enjoying retirement. Worrying about our decreasing health.

Beginning to see more and more close friends and family members pass on from this world.

There is a lot to take in during one's lifetime. Hopefully, many good and happy moments, too, along the way.

But as we journey through our struggles and challenges here on Earth, it would be great to be able to look heavenward for guidance and support to help navigate the course. But more often than not, when we look for support and acceptance from above, we see God more as a judge and we find ourselves looking through our own critical eyes and see ourselves falling way short of God's standard for our lives. So rather then finding a blessing and support, we feel condemnation and isolation instead- albeit falsely, nevertheless still quite painful. Chapter seven of Romans helps to dispel that mindset. Rather than trying to live our lives systematically according to a set of rules and doctrines, God reveals a much better way to live out our lives: guided by love and God's Holy Spirit within us. The law, and all its condemnation and judgement, has been set aside to us by Jesus, paving the way for us to live a new life in freedom and peace. Living each moment in trust and well-being under Christ's lordship is like flying effortlessly upon the currents of the wind.

Verse 1: "that the law has authority over a man only a long as he lives?

Verse 5: "For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death."

Verse 10: "I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death."

Verse 11: "For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death."

Verse 18: "I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out."

Verse 24: "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from from this body of death?"

Verse 25: "Thanks be to God- through Jesus Christ our Lord!"

Key verses for me:

Verse 4: "So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God."

Verse 6: "But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we may serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code."

Verse 21: "So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me."

Jesus was the atoning sacrifice that fulfilled God's righteous requirement for sin on our behalf. Having done that, Jesus set aside all ramification of the law as they apply to us, setting us free from accusations and judgement.

"He forgave us all our sins, having cancelled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross." Colossians 2:13-14

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Jesus set us free from an adherence to a written set of standards and codes for our behavior. Instead, a better way to live life was infused within us- to love. What better motivation can you think of that moves your life to do something for somebody else than your love for that person? In that same vein of thinking, what better way to live our lives for God? We love because God first loved us. All of the commandments, all the possible codes are all fulfilled by the underlying action of love.

"We love because He first loved us." 1 John 14:19

In Christ, look heavenward with no fear of condemnation and embrace the love and grace that is awaiting you. Look inward to the Holy Spirit that has been deposited in you for your help, support, acceptance, and direction.

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." Hebrews 10:23

Have a blessed day. See you back here tomorrow...