but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind, and making me a prisoner of the law of sin Romans 7:23 Waging war - The Greek word antistrateuomai is used only one time in the New Testament. It is military metaphor, a word that means engaging in a serious battle. Paul uses many military terms in his writings, but none has more impact on our daily lives than this one. Look at this verse again. Did you notice that Paul is reporting something that he has observed (I see a different law)? He tells us that in spite of our deep desires to be godly, he observes that there is a great battle going on in our lives. We are under attack by an evil enemy. But the amazing thing is that this evil enemy is right inside us, bending our lives to its destructive purposes. Paul says that the principle of Good that he knows in his mind is under constant bombardment from this other force, a force that has enlisted his own body in its efforts to overcome him. Most of the time, sin seems like guerilla warfare. The snipers are hidden deep within our interior structures. They are hard to find and harder to get rid of. We seem to be doing well, enjoying Gods presence in our lives, following His purposes, and then, sometimes without warning, we are suddenly attacked from inside. The principle of sin lodged deep within us starts shooting and we get wounded. God knows all about this battle. He provides protection and safe-havens. We dont get killed. But the battle is very serious and very threatening. Our strategy needs to be well thought out if we are going to eliminate these snipers. Gods effort in our lives will be victorious, but it wont come without a fight. In this verse, Paul reminds us that we are never to take sin lightly. Every assault is part of a military attempt to overrun us. Our hope is in Gods strength, not in our own. We have to give up the enemy territory within us so that Gods power can prevail. Turn the tables on this enemy within. It is the enemys tactic to fight fire with fire. That only makes the flame stronger. Pour Living Water on the battle and put it out now! (Todays Word w/ S. Moen)
Posted on: Fri, 29 Nov 2013 14:45:05 +0000