IMO: You Can Fix Yourself - Tuesday
Romans 7:18b
I want to do what is right, but I can’t. (NLT)
Ever noticed how easily a fly can find its way into your car but can’t seem to make it back out? Even when you roll the window down to let it back out into the wild (and to free yourself of the distraction), it often won’t take the path to freedom you’re kindly providing. In reality, the fly isn’t actually smart enough to realize your car is not the best place for it to survive and, therefore, has no idea that its next best route is out that window. So it doesn’t take the opportunity that will give it life.
While us humans are fortunately a bit smarter than flies, we still act similarly sometimes. Yesterday, we talked about how those of us who follow Jesus have His Spirit living inside us—a Spirit with sin-defeating, resurrection-level power that helps us live in freedom from our sinful nature. But so many of us, myself included sometimes, don’t actually take advantage of this gift. Those of us who are aware of our own brokenness but aren’t leaning into the power of the Spirit tend to fall in one of these two states of being, sometimes even oscillating between both:
Frustration—as we keep attempting and failing to change ourselves with our own willpower
Defeat—having given up hope that we can ever change
A few weeks ago, Scott Nickell shared some great wisdom on that second category in his message “You’ll Never Change,” but he also made a statement that’s relevant for people who find themselves in either category: “You don’t clean yourself up to come to Jesus, you come to Jesus to clean you up.”
So to those living in frustration with their failure but still trying with their own might: You’re right, there is hope and a path to change and transformation. But you are not it.
And to those who have given in to defeat: You’re right, you won’t ever be able to bring about your own change and transformation. But there is hope. There is a way.
Friends, Jesus wants to clean us up, so let’s let Him. The gift of freedom we now have access to came at a high price, so let’s use it. We don’t have to live in frustration or defeat any longer. The window is open.
Tuesday’s Reflection
Are you living in frustration or defeat right now? Take some time to talk to Jesus about it, and make the choice to trust that He can clean you up.
