Be Still

Romans 7:14-20

1.      Describe the condition of the apostle Paul’s heart in this passage.

I would say that it is as confused as mine. I know what I ought to do and yet I do not do it. I know that what I do is wrong and yet I do it. I understand that if I do what is right, I will be rewarded in Heaven and yet I still do not do it. I choose to do wrong. Mostly I do wrong without even thinking about it. The majority of the time I am doing wrong and not even realizing it. And to think that I cannot even hope to do right without God's spirit within me aiding me. I cannot even love without His support.

Describe a time you felt the way Paul feels in this passage.

In the last few weeks. Okay, the last few months. Fine, the last couple of years, I have let the Devil have free reign with my thoughts regarding my worth. Some would call it Depression. Others would call it Life. I am not completely ignorant of what is going on. I've been taught better. But the battle has been hard fought and I'm exhausted and finding it simpler to just give in. Give me two seconds and I can be in tears. I've come to expect rejection. And I'm simply not fighting very hard anymore. I'm just taking it. I barely have the energy to do what I want even if it is good. And to read that I cannot have Faith, Hope or Love without the Spirit being within me, at least consoles me that the Spirit is present for I have moments. I am unspiritual. I am a slave to sin.

2.     When defining multiplicity, John gives three examples: “We desire both intimacy with God and we flee from it. We long to be generous, but we also hoard and covet. We sometimes attempt to be servants and sometimes are driven by arrogance and self-serving.” What are some other areas of multiplicity followers of Christ can face?

We strive to be Christ-like and we hate those who are different from us. We want to be helpful and we want others watching. We wish to give abundantly, but at the expense of our families. We wish to be generous and recognized for it. We serve others but only if we can do it on our own terms. We are connected to people in a variety of ways, but don't actually interact in a positive way with any of them. We go to church but live in the world. We want to help, but pay to have others do the heavy work.

3.     Tell about a time when you experienced a spiritual washing as you studied God’s Word. How did God bring cleansing and refreshment to your life through his Word?

Not remembering a time where I felt cleansed or renewed. I was at a prayer vigil once and heard the song "Be Still" and that spoke to me. Of course it took a while to figure it out and find it. Wordless music. And I don't think I immediately identified it as a verse from Scripture. And I tried to Be Still. But I'm just not that good at it. I'm a failure.

We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.  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. Romans 7:14-20 (NIV)