Daily Journal for Tuesday 29th of March 2011

Rescued

S - What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! Romans 7:24-25a

O - The sinful nature was alive and well even in Paul the Apostle. Though he lived a disciplined Christian life a war was being fought within. He felt like a prisioner. He felt like he was living in a body of death. "What a wretched man I am!" was his heartfelt cry. "Who will save me?" The clear answer comes - Paul is delivered from death through Jesus Christ and all the thanks goes to God.

A - There are a number of points of application that come straight to mind from reflecting on these verses...

1. It's rare today to be wretched. There's not many people like Paul. Today it is rare to find people who wage this war in their bodies with sin. Many have either given up and surrendered long ago or have never tried to fight it because they haven't ever understood who God is and what his law requires. Others have known but prefered to make excuses and justify themselves rather than seek to fight it. 
2. Even Christians can try to be good when they're wretched. Many Christians have not got to the point of crying out "wretched man that I am!" and realised that before a holy God they are completely ruined and need saving. They instead try to be good and when they fail they pretend that they still are good when they know that they aren't. They console themselves that at least they are better than others and judge and look down on them. This is far from Paul's position.
3. I am wretched but rescued. I need to constantly remember that I am a wretched man, saved by a wonderful saviour. This, when pondered and delighted in will not only assure me of my new status in Christ but will also compell me to seek to live a holy life, every day, waging war against sin.

P - Heavenly Father, thanks a million for sending Jesus. His death has brought me life, forgiveness and a whole new standing. Praise be to you! Amen.

Daily Readings - Leviticus 1-2 & Romans 7:7-25