Rescued from Myself
Friend, come on up here on this ol’ front porch and ease yourself into that old rocker, the one that creaks louder than a bullfrog sittin’ on a wet stump because we’re about to wander into a truth that hits home for every last one of us. Now let’s talk about Romans 7:15, 24-25, where Paul throws his hands up and says, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate, I do. What a wretched man I am. Who will rescue me from this body of death. Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” And to shine a little more light on this tug of war inside us, we will tuck in Psalm 51:10, where David cries out, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”
Now. friend, if Paul felt this way, you better believe we will, too. How many times have we sat in the middle of a mess we made and wondered how in this ol’ world we ever got there. It’s plum like watchin’ a lil’ ol’ raccoon that got into the chicken feed and then acts real surprised when all them feathers start to flyin’. Paul sho’-nuff’ knew what it felt like to want to do right but end up doin’ the very thing he hated. Every one of us has felt like that “wretched man” at some point, sittin’ there like an ol’ possum that got caught in the headlights of our own real bad choices.
Dr. William Backus said, “Our deepest spiritual disorder comes from believin’ lies about God and about ourselves.” Those lies twist our thinkin’, stir up our emotions, and spill out into our behavior. Before long, we’re all tangled up like a lil’ ol’ squirrel that tried to outrun a fully engaged tractor rollin’ right past the pecan trees. But Paul doesn’t leave us sittin’ in that there dark misery. He asks, “Who will rescue me?” and then answers his own question with a shout, “Jesus Christ our Lord.” Backus reminds us that sin ain’t the final word. Grace is. Forgiveness is. Jesus is.
So, today, friend, come to Christ for some real good cleansin’. Accept His total forgiveness. Ask Him to shine a light on any spiritual lies that are weighin’ you down like a wet wool blanket. Throw off that “wretched man” kind of thinkin’ and step right on into His grace, His love, and His freedom.
Father, You know my temptations, struggles, and failures. I confess I have believed lies about You that I need to let go of. Show me what they are and begin my inner cleansing. Thank You that Jesus Christ has rescued me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Alright then, friend, as you make your plans to git goin’ on your way for what’s still ahead today, let this here truth settle right on into your heart like warm molasses sinkin’ on into a hot biscuit. Every single one of us wrestles with the gap between who we are and who we long to be, but Jesus steps right on into that gap with His ever-lovin’ mercy that never runs dry. You don’t have to stay stuck, you don’t have to stay ashamed, and you don’t have to fix yourself. You gotta be walkin’ forward with your head lifted up, your heart fully open, and your hope deeply anchored. And be rememberin’ that even the loudest ol’ rooster eventually learns it cannot crow or spur its way out of every kind of trouble. Full rescue comes only from the Lord, and He’s mighty faithful to come and pull you through every troublin’ situation.
With joy,
Gwen
