Rev. Richard Smith
Romans 7:14-25
I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. I can will what is right, but I don’t do it. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do…So I find it to be true that when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand… What a divided person I am; doing God’s will often but giving in to sin often as well. Where lies my hope? Thanks to be God that as I turn to Him and truly seek His help and confess my betrayal, He comes to me to help me fight the battle which wages within! [A Modern Translation]
The Apostle Paul hits the nail on the head when it comes to who we are as human beings. Each of us, without question, is a mixture of good and bad, spiritual depth and spiritual failure, good intentions and poor discipline. Let’s reflect on this key theological motif.
Spiritual Growth Begins With Healthy Guilt
While there is no question that personal guilt can be unhealthy and overly self-condemning, guilt is also an important and a mature spiritual discipline.
Without guilt, we human beings can readily excuse or ignore our spiritual and moral failures. We can dismiss our flagrant missteps as just the way things are.
We don’t need to let guilt emotionally disable us, but we at the same time must look within ourselves and see what needs changing.
Healthy Guilt Should Lead To Honest Confession
The essential starting point for growth is the realization that we must admit that part of our life which lets God down or which dishonors our commitment to Jesus.
Each of us has that part of ourselves which indeed lets God down. We have to name specifically what this is in our personal lives; in other words, confessing the less than acceptable parts of ourselves..
I don’t know what it is in your life; I do know what it is my life. Maybe for us or someone, it’s…
- That you don’t respond to the needs of the disadvantaged as God expects
- That you harbor some real anger or bitterness toward someone and won’t let it go
- That you tend to have a judgmental or critical attitude toward others
- That you lack the virtue of generosity in the sharing of your resources
- That you fail to make time for God amidst your daily tasks and responsibilities
- That you are involved in some behavior which you know is wrong
Now I want to emphasize here that this has to be specific, particular confession, not just confession in general. We’ve all heard and even shared in “general prayers of confession” in worship. All denominations, all churches have them and use them. An example of a general prayer of confession is this:
Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred, and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against thy holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; and we have done those things which we ought not to have done; and there is no health in us.
Well, there’s a problem here. You see, the issue is “how I have erred”, not how the whole world has erred; “how I have strayed” not how everyone else has strayed; “how I have followed devices and desires of my own heart” not how other people have; “how I have offended against God’s holy laws” not anyone else. Our confession needs to be specific, particular, real! I must confess that part of ME that needs changing and you must confess that particular part of you that needs changing!
We Should Want To Please God
Few of us are going to make the changes necessary in our moral and spiritual lives if we’re not driven by a compelling spiritual desire to please God. This, I believe, is the key to all spiritual renewal and change — we want to please God.
Some time ago a man came to me to talk about his troubled marriage. His wife was ready to file for divorce. He admitted that his attitudes and behaviors had driven a wedge in their relationship. He wanted some direction as to how he could save his marriage. He said he was willing to commit to counseling if she would. He seemed somewhat sincere in his desire to save his marriage but I didn’t sense the conviction I thought would be necessary to save the marriage. I asked him this questions, “Is you love of your wife so deep and your desire to show her that you love her so compelling that you will do whatever it takes to restore your relationship?”
So for us in our relationship with God the questions are?
Is love of God a driving force in our life?
Do you want to do all you can to please God?
Is the desire to make God glad a priority for you?
If not, chances are that we will not make the changes necessary in our life to be the person God wants us to be.
When we really want to please God, then we will go about becoming the persons He would have us be.
Obviously, Help Is Available
Having said all this, let me give you some really good news. We’re not expected to do this alone. God doesn’t give us His directions and expectations and then say, “Good luck; hope you can do it; get on with it now and become the person you’re supposed to be.” That’s not the way God works.God wants to help you along the road of renewal and recovery. God wants to help you become the better person, the more faithful Christian you’re called to become. God is ever ready to give us what we need, as we seek His help, to make the changes that are needed. You don’t walk this journey alone.
We’re not expected to grow beyond our sin, become the persons God wants us to be, by ourselves alone. God is here to help us. God is ever willing to step forward and give us the strength, the encouragement, the power we need to overcome our less-than-holy selves if we will let Him.
What a deal! God calls us to be certain persons and He is ever willing to help us become those persons! Again, we’re not alone in our journey toward holiness and faithfulness.
