I must confess I became a fan of the 80’s band The Police after they broke up. I sort of snuck in the back door through their lead singer’s music after they disbanded. Sting was, and continues to be, my favorite musician/singer/songwriter. The above mentioned Police song came to my mind as I received a bit of sad news last weekend.
A friend had to step down from his position of leadership/authority for his self confessed individual indiscretions. He is a kind and gentle man and even though I wouldn’t call us close friends, the news saddened me. Almost the same kind of feeling I get when I hear of couples that have been married a long time, deciding to divorce.
Paul and The Police
In chapter 7 of Romans, one of my favorite books of The Bible, the apostle Paul wrote about the struggle with sin we all have to deal with. In verse 15 he wrote “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” These words came to mind as I thought of my friend. Lounging in the pool last Sunday (give me a break. I had a tough week) I thought of Do, Do, Do.
Do 1 is what we all ought to do. God calls us to live our lives a certain way. I believe this way is immutable and absolute. I don’t believe He says it’s wrong to steal in one breath, then turns around and says “Well, just this once it’s ok”. That would make God a liar and changeable and He is neither. Many times we try to justify our behavior by mudding the waters. We feign ignorance and say to ourselves “Does God really prohibit this type of behavior or this action?” knowing full well the answer. The enemy has been pulling this stunt since Genesis 3. Ask Momma Eve. Even the pagan knows (see Romans 1). The problem is not ignorance. It’s Do 2.
Do 2 is what we want to do. No pun intended but this comes natural to us. Paul knows that there is nothing good about the sinful nature he struggles with. The Christian also knows that since his rebirth there is good that he desires to do and therein lies the struggle. Have you ever heard the statement "but doesn't God want me to be happy?" I heard a preacher once say God is more interested in making you holy than making you happy.
We are a spoiled people in our blessed country. We are use to getting what we want. It's our right, damn it! I'm going to puke if I hear one more commercial telling me I deserve the product or service they're trying to sell me. If we all got what we deserved we'd be in big trouble.
Do 3 is what we end up doing. We all have to deal with forks in the road every day. Which road will we take? Who will rescue us from this body of death and the struggles that lie
before us? Thank God He has given us a way out and the power to take that road.
Dear family (and friends who read this blog), soak yourself in the basics of the faith: prayer and daily consumption of His Word. As we make our way toward the Lamb, let us humbly acknowledge our dependence on His grace to help us work through our struggles, for He is able.
Do, do, do. Da, da, da. That's all I want to say to you...
3 comments:
That was nice.
Thanks for this very important blog, Bro. U. It’s a great reminder that God cares about being a part of our daily walk, including our struggles and temptations. You’re right- all we can do is humble before His grace.
The comparison of the Apostle Paul’s words of wisdom with Da, Da, Da from the Police was definitely a stretch that only you could get away with! Well written blog…really! I felt blessed reading it!
May God continue to bless your walk.
Those forks in the road are very clear in our lives.
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