May 24, 2018

Inconspicuous Idols Defeated by a Conspicuous Savior

Romans 7:7–8

Amanda Ritchie
Thursday's Devo

May 24, 2018

Thursday's Devo

May 24, 2018

Central Truth

We could never fulfill the law wholly, so God sent Jesus to be the ultimate sacrifice and fulfillment of the law. Still, the law is useful to reveal where our lives do not align with God’s holiness. He has great plans for us!

Romans 7:7–8

The Law and Sin

What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead.

Dive Deeper | Romans 7:7–8

I am currently attending re:generation at Watermark, a Christ-centered recovery program, for my pride and control. They had become idols in my life, leading me to break the first commandment of God’s Law (see Exodus 20:3). I let these things become “other gods” in my life. Sometimes, it looked as harmless as anxiously overthinking situations or just wanting to be “right.” But Psalm 10:4 (NIV84) says, “In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.” This misplaced worship led me down a path to anxiety and a hardened heart.

God gave us the law not only so sin would be revealed in us, but so we could know how to glorify Him. Matthew 22:37 says the greatest commandment of the law is to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” It’s impossible to love the Lord this completely when your mind is distracted with thoughts that aren’t glorifying to Him. And let me tell you, going down this path does not lead to a life marked with the peace of God, but to one marked with toil and unrest.

Thankfully, our God’s plans are better than a (former) control freak like me could ever dream up. 1 Peter 5:6-10 tells us to humble ourselves, cast our anxieties on Him, and He will restore us. He knows we cannot wholly keep the law, and that is why He sent His Son to live a blameless life and be the sacrifice for our shortcomings. This sacrifice was made before we ever had a chance to earn it. Titus 3:5 reminds us that God “saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.”

The Law is useful even as we live under God’s free gift of grace. It reveals God’s perfect character to us and how we can bring Him glory. The law has been fulfilled through Christ. Have you accepted that free gift?

This month's memory verse

13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.

– Romans 6:13

Discussion Questions

1. While just as offensive to God as all other sins, my pride and control weren’t as easily identifiable because our society tends to “accept” those sins and sometimes even glorifies those sins (i.e., your control is just you taking care of your family and wanting what you perceive as best for them). What “acceptable” sins are in your life that might not seem so bad on the surface, but prevent you from fully surrendering your life to God?

2. God gave us His law to reveal His character to us and show us His perfect standard for our lives. Why do you think it could be to our benefit to heed the law, even though we are saved by grace?

3. Matthew 22:37 says to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” What thoughts are consuming your mind that prevent you from keeping the greatest commandment of all?

4. Are there parts of your life that seem broken? Check out Watermark’s re:generation ministry.