The two Matts

I am two individuals. Not bi-polar. Not a twin. Not part of a bad sci-fi movie experiment gone wrong. Instead, I am a human bring who understands what it means to be in Christ, yet not with Him in a glorified state. I am speaking of Romans 7:14-25 and I am speaking of every day of my life. I desire to do good things...godly things. I desire for my actions and words and thoughts to all be pleasing sacrifices to God that honor Him and reflect the glory of His name to the whole world. As anyone who knows me can knowingly exclaim, that is not always the case.

When I read Paul's words here, I recognize that Paul believes that a Christian desires to obey God's law and hates his sin (v. 15, 19, 21) and this person is willing to acknowledge that nothing good dwells in themselves apart from Christ himself. (v. 18) While there is great sin there, that is not all, because this person serves King Jesus with His mind. (v. 25)

I think that through the process of life, we often feel like this, yet know that the transformation must be completed, no matter how painful. I once a poster on my bedroom wall that I had found at a Christian book store. I would stare at it often as I fell asleep having the work resonate with my daily experiences.

The reality is, as we are sanctified through the daily, no...minute-by-minute work of the Holy Spirit we are faced with the reality that we take off our old filthy rags and are clothed in new, brilliant garments of Christ's righteousness. But we have worn those old clothes for so long, they are intertwined with our very being. Taking off the old ways and clothes takes the skin. If not for finding our new identity in Christ, I dare say that we would feel as if we were losing our being, but not so. if we are in Christ, we are new men and though the process is painful, Yahweh the Warrior goes to battle for me daily, helping me to die to self and live for Him.

What a joyous thought!