Nov 19, 2015
Overcoming Failure
Romans 7:15-20
Victory is God’s will for the life of a believer. But sometimes we can find ourselves repeatedly falling into the same sin. As a result, our prayer life is marked by broken promises to end wrongdoing. We tell the Lord that we yearn to do what is right, but often our desire wanes when virtue is no longer convenient, pleasurable, or profitable. Many believers become angry with God for withholding the victory, but sin is always our choice—not the Lord’s.
If a stinging conscience and misery are the result of our decision to sin, why do we continue to transgress? One reason is incomplete repentance. It is possible for us to experience grief, embarrassment, and shame over sin without being truly repentant. The reason is that penitence isn’t a matter of weeping or feeling guilty; rather, true repentance is a change of mind about sin so that we no longer hold on to our own perspective but instead agree with God’s viewpoint. When we do this, the heart turns in the opposite direction from persistent wrongdoing.
The second reason for failure is an inadequate view of our true identity in the Lord. We, as completed children of God, have Christ living within to empower us. When we grasp this truth, we will recognize that sin does not fit who we are, and we’ll stop rationalizing our offenses. Our genuine repentance is based upon an honest and full understanding of our identity.
When we put these two truths together, we create a powerful tool against Satan and temptation. Our Father wants us to be victorious, and we triumph over failure when we remember that Jesus Christ is the source of our lives.
Bible in One Year: Acts 23-24 |
