Another song of rejoicing, praise, and worship, but it’s verse 18 that really stands out to me, personally:
18 If I had cherished sin in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened;
A lot of times, when my prayers go unanswered in the immediate future, I get impatient and assume it’s because I’m too sinful and undeserving. While I am undeserving, I also know that I do not cherish sin in my heart. The Lord hears my prayers, and answers them on His own schedule, not mine.
Romans 7
The first part of this chapter is still trying to explain to the Gentiles that Jew and Gentile alike were freed from the old laws (circumcision, etc.) when Christ died for our sins by comparing it to marriage. It’s yet another reminder to me that I have been reborn, and am no longer a slave to my sins.
The next part of this chapter sounds like it’s the famous saying of Paul’s: “Why do I continue to do the things that I hate, and cannot do the things I should?” I haven’t read the next chapter, but it sounds like Paul is basically trying to relate to his audience by saying that he’s not perfect either. None of us are, and it’s important to remember that. It’s not our job to judge, sin is in our very nature. But it’s because of our love of God, He is able to help us rise above it.
