People come to America from all over the world. They bring with them languages, customs, and laws that are as different as black from white.
In addition, they all bring with them one more thing: anticipation for a life that is new, different, and better.
Successful integration into American culture requires each immigrant to do one thing: learn and abide by the laws of his or her new country.
Coming to Christ is the same. We leave our old lives behind. The languages, customs, and laws that were over us no longer apply. We have immigrated to the spiritual world, and a new set of rules applies.
We cannot successfully integrate into the life of Christ if we continue to try to live by the laws of the world.
In Romans 7:22 Paul starts with, “I delight in the law of God...”
How can we know the laws of God? Moses gave them to us in the Ten Commandments. Jesus added one to them. We call it the Golden Rule.
Paul wraps Romans 7:22 with, “...after the inward man.”
The inward man. Who is the inward man?
2 Corinthians 4:16 says that we are being renewed inwardly day by day.
Ephesians 3:16 assures us that God’s Spirit will give power to our inner being.
1 Peter 3:4 describes our inner self as having great worth in God’s sight.
When we are regenerated in Christ, his laws will not seem cumbersome. In fact, we will not “consent” to follow Christ; rather, we will delight in his laws. Just as those who emigrate to a foreign country anticipate a new, different, and better life, so we have a promise in Christ that we could never know in the world.
Our delight is in him, for we now live in Christ. We are no longer of the world.
Let’s set off the fireworks. We are citizens of Christ, and it’s time to celebrate.
Copyright © 2014 MyChurchNotes.net
Originally Published 5-15-14 in Discipleship