June 17 | Romans 7:7-25

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DAILY READING

Romans 7: 7-25

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REFLECTION

And in the Red Corner...Jesus!

 By Jenny Raber

I never really liked playing Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots. Designed as a two-player game, I was never comfortable trying to “knock out” my opponent. But….every now and then, I would play it by myself. It's not quite the same, playing it alone, trying to win working both controllers for Red Rocker and Blue Bomber. Victory only happened when the perfect punch caused the opponent’s head to pop up. Romans 7 reminds me of this classic tabletop game.

In this passage, Paul vulnerably shares his inner spiritual boxing match. We hear and feel Paul’s frustration and deep anguish at the chronic tension between his new identity in Christ (Red Rocker) and the reality of living in sin (Blue Bomber). I, too, experience this daily exhausting battle that often leaves me filled with guilt and shame, beaten up and bruised. This fight is real—but necessary—as we mature as Christ followers. And we learn that Christ is the only One who can deliver the knock-out punch.

Paul found himself in the boxing ring battling his two selves: his virtuous self, the one that submitted to the law, and his covetous self, the one that hated the law and desired to be God itself. Paul, while working both controllers, would never see victory between the paradox of not doing the good he wanted to do while doing the evil he didn't want to do. He couldn’t win. But when Jesus enters the ring, everything changes. Now, even though the fight continues, Paul has a game-winning, heart-changing strategy—a champion boxer, Jesus Christ, ready and fully prepared to defeat his nasty opponent.

I’ve been around competitive sports long enough to know that when you are facing worthy opponents, you train and study your opponents in order to expose and take advantage of their weaknesses. When we invite Jesus into our ring, the evil one studies us to find our weaknesses, attempting to pull us away from God. What are your weaknesses? Where can the evil one exhaust you, outmaneuver you, mentally expose you to gain victory, to keep you from doing the good work of God? Is it through guilt, shame, pride? If we fight alone, we will not succeed. We need Jesus, the One who became sin (the opponent) on the cross, to deliver the final blow for us.

We need to prepare for the fight, though, and Paul gives us the training program. First, we admit we are helpless. “What a wretched man I am!” We put aside our pride, willpower, resentment, anger and our self-righteousness and admit we are ill-equipped for this fight. Second, we seek out the only One who can rescue us. “Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?” We turn wholly to Jesus Christ—who never gave in to temptation, who always obeyed, who always loved. Third, we give thanks! “Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” When we find ourselves between the ropes, and we will, we rejoice and give thanks for the salvation and grace that so generously and lovingly renews us daily. As our faith evolves and matures, we come to rejoice and delight in the fight itself. With Christ as our red-corner champion, we know He will deliver the perfect knock-out punch.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, we come to You ill-equipped for the constant battle with sin. We know we cannot win this battle by ourselves. We are guilty of sin, beaten and bruised by its consequences. Thank You for sending us a game-winning strategy through Jesus Christ. Thank You for the hope we now have--for our renewed hearts. Bring us and keep us close to You so we do not succumb to discouragement at this daily struggle. May Your Holy Spirit empower our inner being to delight in Your will. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

JENNY RABER

I am so grateful for the loving and welcoming community at UALC. My husband and I, along with our three (now adult) children began attending Lytham Road services around 2009. And before that, well, I’ve just loved the Bible for about as long as I can remember. I am so thrilled to be a part of the Daily Devotional Writing Team.