The Singing Sinner

"I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin." — Romans‬ ‭7‬:‭15‬-‭25‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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You ever been a singning sinner? Love the Lord, but still lustful? You’ve had bottles and Bibles? Good heart, bad actions? Hide from God in private, but publicly maintain a spiritual facade? In Romans 7:15-25, Paul describes what many of our Christian walks look like. Oftentimes, we don’t understand why our desires and actions are misaligned. Why we do what we don’t want to, and why we don’t do what we want to.

One of the reasons why I love the Bible is because it doesn’t look like our social media pages, where we try to look perfect. It doesn’t edit out all the bad parts like we do. The Bible is a real book with real people highlighting real issues. Paul wrote the most books in the Bible and says, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” Paul is writing this text, appearing to be at war with himself, as we often all are. This text isn’t for the country club Christian who likes to act holier than thou. This one’s for the real Christians, the singing sinners, the people who learned to praise God in spite of their personal problems. That’s why Paul is praising because he knows he can’t save himself. As Paul lists out all his problems, sins, and personal wars, he gets to verse 25 and says, “Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” When Paul realized he couldn’t save himself, his only response was to praise God. You can't save yourself; that’s Jesus' job. And He made it easy; you just have to put your faith in Him. It doesn’t mean your life will be easy, sinless, or without wars; it just means that only Jesus is mighty enough to save you from your sins.

So, I have good news for those who feel forgotten, God remembers you. I have good news for those who feel overlooked; God, see you. I have good news for those condemned, Jesus doesn’t condemn you. I have good news for the lawful captives: You can be set free. I have good news for the bound; the Truth will set you free. I have good news for the sinners: You can still sing. So please never stop singing, even if it’s a broken hallelujah. May God bless you. Keep P.U.S.H.ing.