A Look In the Mirror

  Devotional for August 10th, 2010

SCRIPTURE:  Romans 7:7-25         Read the passage

BIO:  My name is Barbra Speer, wife to James, mother to Sam and Brooke. I love being with my family so much that it’s actually easy for me to forget that God meant for us to live in community. My Turbo and Life Community group experiences were a wonderful reminder of that straight from Him.

KEY VERSE:  Romans 7:24  What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?

CENTRAL TRUTH:  The purpose of the law in the Old Testament was to reveal where we’re sinful and point us toward Jesus Christ.

DEVOTIONAL:  A Look In the Mirror

When I’ve had a really long night with my young children, I don’t want to look in the mirror. It reveals to me things I don’t always want to see. The law was a lot like a mirror for Jewish believers. Once you began to understand it, the Law revealed where and how you failed (ouch!), but it also pointed you toward Jesus Christ. Through the Law, they came to know sin and they could not be saved until they knew that they had sinned.

Paul used his own experience as an example because he knew that it would be typical of all men. He pointed out that before he knew the law, he didn’t know he was sinful. For example, through the law "Do not covet," he realized how covetous he really was.

It’s our nature to break law and we can’t come to salvation until we understand our nature. We must be brought low before Christ can lift us up.

The law promises eternal spiritual life to those who can keep it perfectly, but God knew that no one could keep it. That’s why we must continue to receive help after we’ve received remission of our sins.

QUESTION 1:  It’s easy for most of us not to break the "big" laws, but if sin starts with our thoughts, what does the law reveal to you about your own sinful nature?

QUESTION 2:  Similar to Paul’s explanation of the purpose of the law, the more I learn about God, the more I realize how Holy He is and how sinful I am. In what area of your sinful life does God want you to grow more like Him this week?

QUESTION 3:  N/A

Share

Twitter Facebook Digg Delicious Stumble Upon Email Us

One Response to “A Look In the Mirror”

  1. Thank you for this devotional – it just clicked with me. As I approach the birth of our new baby (due 9/6), I’m becoming more impatient and frustrated that “things” aren’t getting done to my satisfaction. But, that’s the Martha in me right now, and I need to learn to be Mary, and be patient and sit at His feet, listen, learn and depend on the Lord, for He will provide. That’s how I need to grow and learn this week.
    Thank you, thank you!!

    Comment by Cyndi — August 11, 2010 @ 12:39 pm

Leave a Reply