The mega rock band The Police (with Sting) sang the hit song De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da- which sounds like a baby babbling. But the lyrics are actually fairly profound. “Poets, priests, and politicians, have words to thank for their positions, words that scream for your submission and no one’s jamming their transmission. ‘Cause when their eloquence escapes you, their logic ties you up and rapes you.” The apostle Paul’s letter to the churches in Rome was equally profound making the case that the law of God is holy, yet reveals in us our utter inadequacy to live holy and please God. He says I Do Do Do, what I don’t want to do. And I don’t Do Do Do, what I should do. He confesses, as we all should, “what a wretched man I am!” And then he discloses the great hope we have. Read it for yourself.
We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. Romans 7:14-20 NASB What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! Romans 7:24-25 NASB
How and when did God deliver me from the wretched life of sin? What must He continue to do in my life to free me from the fleshly man still inside?
God, as this day begins- I am so thankful, as the apostle Paul was as well, that You have delivered me and rescued me. I have abundant life in Christ now and the hope of heaven. May You guide and direct today as I attempt to accomplish Your will in the world. I have some commitments to fulfill, decisions to make, and people to love. Help me in every way. All that You’ve provided in the Word is meaningful, never meaningless.
