RUNNIG TO THE CROSS. By Pastor Fernando.

Scripture:
I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another law at work within me that is at war with my mind. This law wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that i dominated by sin? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: in my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.
Romans 7:22-25

Observation:
These words from Paul are probably the most real and easy to relate as followers of Christ. The greatest disappointment we encounter in our walk with God is when we allow sin to master again over our lives. Everything in our hearts is disrupted when sin comes in. No wonder Paul feels so miserable when that happens. And the cry for hope comes natural. Who can set us free? He answers, “Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.” This is the magnificent truth that gets buried underneath our sinful behavior. We cannot see the cross and its power to set us free when we run towards self-pity and despair. We need to run to the cross, where God’s love and grace is waiting for us to embrace us, to cleanse us, and to set us free again.

Application:
Running to the cross is not the first reaction I have when sin temporarily masters over me. This past week I’ve been feeling miserable because my vulnerability to the enemy’s temptations. I’ve been very disappointed because some battles lost in the recent days. Instead of running to the cross, I’ve been running to condemnation. What a joy to hear these words from God in this particular season of my life. My friend Gregg reminded me over the weekend the strategy that the enemy uses to get the most advantage of us. Our sinful nature knows how to blow a lethal double punch. First, it jabs us with temptation. The enemy is relentless jabbing with the left, constantly alluring and seducing. Sinful natures says, “Don’t worry! One more time is not going to hurt.” Overtime, we become numb and our guard weakens. The jab connects. Then, like the best boxers, the enemy throws the second power punch, a right hook filled with accusations and condemnation. Sinful nature then says, “You are the worse Christian ever. God doesn’t love you anymore and He is going to be so mad at you.” At this point, we need to run to the cross for cover if we want to avoid a knockdown. In our corner we will hear God’s voice saying something completely different. At the cross we don’t hear accusations. We only hear God’s encouragement to keep fighting. And at the cross we also find grace and forgiveness.

Prayer:
Dear heavenly Father, this morning I’m running to the cross for cover. You are my place for refuge when I get pounded my a merciless enemy. Please forgive me for putting my guard down and for letting sin master over my life. Thank you for the cross, for your forgiveness, and for being faithful to me, even when I am not faithful to you. Please me prepare me for the unavoidable battles I will have in the future. Help me to become a skilled boxer. Give me the endurance to resist the jabs of temptation that the enemy keeps throwing at me. Help me to keep my guard up at all times and let me stay free from the power of sin over my life. Amen!