Delight in the Law of God by Jason G. Lutz

Delight in the Law of God by Jason G. Lutz

For about a week I have been completely immersed in Ron Chernow’s new biography of General/President Grant and there is a very useful example for us in it.  It is common for even good historians to portray Grant simply as a man who liked to drink alcohol and liked to drink it too much.  This is misleading.  Grant, more than anyone else, knew that he alone could not control his drinking.  Chernow as biographer relates to us Grant as a man who knew that he had a problem, who knew that he was powerless over the problem, and sought help to solve his problem:

For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.”
(‭‭Romans‬ ‭7:22-23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬)
If a man with almost unwavering confidence that he could lead a volunteer army to victory over a rebellion knew that he was no match for his alcohol problem, how on earth can I expect to defeat my sins on my own?
But this is not about extolling Captain Sam Grant, although we should, nor is our point today really about sin.  This is about Grace.  This is about recognizing that within the impossibility of overcoming sin on our own is standing the Creator, Judge… the Lord of Hosts and His absolute desire is to save us, to forgive us.
And here we can give substance to our faith.  The Spirit is working in us to destroy the chains of sin.  Free from our slavery to sin, Grace might be manifested in all that we do.  So we must ask ourselves:
Is Grace manifested in criticism or honest conversation?  Is Grace manifested in broad generalizations or understanding relationships?  Is Grace manifested is assigning blame or tackling problems that can be solved?  Is Grace manifested in moral lecturing or Christ’s love for those who reject Him?
Grace be with you,

Jason

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