December 8, 2017. Romans 4-7

In Order. Which Are You Feeding?

Every day is a struggle. Every day you must make decisions. Every day it is a challenge and an ongoing war. Every day you must choose how you are going to live your life that day.  Are you going to die to the flesh, or give in to the sinful nature you were born into?

Do not be ashamed if you struggle with this, do not hang your head and get discouraged. But do not look down your nose at others because you think you have figured this whole thing out. News flash, you haven’t.  Not even Paul could say he had it all figured out.

Romans 7:21

So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me.

Sin is right there with you, every step of the way, taunting and tempting you.  Paul acknowledged that it was a constant companion, admitted he was not perfect in verse 24 of that same chapter he calls himself a wretched man. But he also understood this:

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

One day we are all going to die, that is what happens with our flesh, but our spirit, our soul has the opportunity to live a life of eternity without Heavenly Father.  Now if you have accepted this gift you also understand that daily you must make that choice if you are going to give into your sin nature or fight it.

There is an old Native American story of a boy who dreams of two wolves who are fighting for his mind, one is evil and the other good.  He asks his grandfather which one will win, his grandfather's simple response “whichever one you feed.” 

Which are you feeding: Your sinful flesh or your soul that Christ paid for with his blood?