Living in the Spirit
July 4, 2014

 Scripture Reading: Romans 7:15-25a 

So I find it to be a law that when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand. ²²For I delight in the law of God in my inmost self, ²³but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind, making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. ²⁴Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? ²⁵Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! — Romans 7:21-25a

Five years ago, I would have been classified as morbidly obese. Actually, I was an underweight, sickly child and did not have any weight problem until after I graduated from college. I apparently have a highly efficient body that does not require as much fuel as some. While counting calories is important, I have to exercise to keep weight off. I have had osteoarthritis since my early 20’s which started in my left knee and now is in all my major joints. As it progressed my exercise slowed down and my weight went up. At least, I like to blame some of my obesity on arthritis.

I also have discovered I eat more when I am very busy, tired, and stressed. When I thought I did not have time to cook, I would start driving through fast food restaurants and grab something to eat. At first I would order healthy selections like the chicken breast sandwich and tea. If the busyness continued, however, I would start upping the food intake eventually ordering the double cheeseburger with fries and a fried pie. You see where I am going with this.

I think sin is like that. We do not intend to drift away from God. We fall prey to concocting our own solutions to whatever is stopping us from being the person God created us to be rather than relying on God for discernment and fulfillment. In math terms we settle for the highest common denominator rather than searching deeper for the lowest one that brings us closer to truth.

I had my left knee replaced in 2008. In searching for ways to get back into shape following the surgery, I stumbled into God’s arms in tearful frustration. I am now a healthy weight for my height and just last week participated in a two or three mile walk against human trafficking doing exactly what God created me to do.

Prayer: Thank you God for never giving up on me and thank you for using me to tell others you will never give up on them either. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.