Living as a creature of extremes . . .

Following the Lord is a paradox. On one hand, I can fervently seek the Lord and on the other, I can stray off in another direction. This is just as the psalmist describes:

“With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!” (Psalm 119:10)

It is also as the apostle Paul describes:

“For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.” (Romans 7:18–20)

I am often tired of this battle yet realize I cannot save myself. The answer to this paradox is always Jesus who delivers me from this body of death (Romans 7:24-25). I’ve prayed many times, “You are my Savior Jesus, please save me.”

Tozer tells of a Jewish man who came to personal faith in Jesus. This man said, “I often think back on those years of reading from the Old Testament. I had the haunting sense that it was good and true. I knew it explained the history of my people. But I had the feeling that something was missing. When I found Jesus as my personal Savior and Messiah, I found Him to be the One to whom the Old Testament was in fact pointing. I found Him to be the answer to my completion as a Jew, as a person and as a believer.”

Paul said the same thing. Jesus Christ the Lord pulled him out of the pit of sin and of running his own life. No matter how hard he tried, he could not do the good that he knew to be true. He needed the only One who can give us righteousness.

The psalmist said, “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11) Since Jesus Christ is the Word of God, and since Jesus Christ comes to dwell in the hearts of those who trust Him, then it could be said that I also have the Word in my heart — that I might not sin against the God who saves. It is not my power or even my prerogative but His and His alone.

^^^^^^^^^^^

Jesus, each day I need Your saving power to overcome the selfishness and sin that threatens my life. I seek You with my whole heart, but I also realize I am prone to wander. Keep me in Your precious care today.