As Christians, we want to be the best people that we can be, to acknowledge that the gifts and skills that we have come from God and to use them as called by God for His service. This sounds easy, but human nature so often gets in the way, we have our own plans and dreams and try to go our own way even when we know that God's way is the best and only way.
For many of our Ely and District CAP clients, being a better person is even more of a struggle as there are so many pressures, demands and worries to face. But John had a great conversation exploring Romans 7 with a client who expressed that they want to be a better person, they feel guilty that they have borrowed money from friends that they can't pay back but can't see a way out of their own situation to be able to think about others as well. The person who sabotages our best intentions is most often ourselves
Romans 7: 14 - 25 (MSG)
14-16 I can anticipate the response that is coming: “I know that all God’s commands are spiritual, but I’m not. Isn’t this also your experience?” Yes. I’m full of myself—after all, I’ve spent a long time in sin’s prison. What I don’t understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. So if I can’t be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God’s command is necessary.
17-20 But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can’t keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don’t have what it takes. I can will it, but I can’t do it. I decide to do good, but I don’t really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don’t result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.
21-23 It happens so regularly that it’s predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God’s commands, but it’s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.
24 I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn’t that the real question?
25 The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.
There is a disconnect between who we are and who we feel we ought to be, that better person. But self-sabotage should not be something that stops us trying or making us feel that we are a bad person. Through Jesus' example, we know what that better person should look like, and we know that we have the Holy Spirit to help us, and we also know that Jesus has removed the disconnect, He knows that we fall short and has given us unconditional love and forgiveness, so that even when we fail and fall short of our expectations and God's call for us, we can get up again and carry on knowing that we have His love and support and strength, and that our lives can be a reflection of His love to carry to others.
Prayer
Please pray for our clients, that the knowledge of God's love carried to them by our debt coaches and visit team can be a strength an support in time of trouble, and the cornerstone to help build a better future. Please pray for those whose journey out of debt is part of a journey to be a better person, to build stability and security in their own lives so that they can build better relationships with their friends and families, and with God.
Please pray especially for two more clients debt free this week, bringing in the total for the Ely and District CAP debt centre to 82. Pray that this will be a new start for them and through the help of the team they have the tools and knowledge, love and support to continue into a brighter future.
Comments