New Testament | Romans 7:21-8:6 (with Jeff Sholar)

Opening Song:
I Love Your Word (Psalm 119) by Anne-Claire Cummings and Caroline Cobb Smith

Lyrics:
I love Your Word because it speaks of You
Teach me oh Lord and guide me in Your truth

Better than gold sweeter than honey to the taste
It brings me life
It’s my delight to seek Your face
I love Your Word because I love You Lord

I love Your Word because I long for You
Come lift my gaze incline my heart to You

Your law is my freedom
My light when I’ve lost my way
Like a treasure I will seek Your wisdom
And my lips will pour out Your praise

I love Your Word because I trust in You
With my whole heart I want to follow You

I love your Word because I love You Lord

Passage:
21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
(Romans 7:21–8:6 ESV)

Musical Reflection:
Piano Sonata No. 16 in C Major, K. 545: II. Andante by W. A. Mozart

Reflection Notes:
In true fashion for Mozart’s middle movements, this Andante blooms slowly with gentle and delicate notes; the melody ascends in joyful fashion at the most climactic points before settling back down with the satisfying left hand harmonies.

Prayer:
This is another day, O Lord. I know not what it will bring forth, but make me ready, Lord, for whatever it may be. If I am to stand up, help me to stand bravely. If I am to sit still, help me to sit quietly. If I am to lie low, help me to do it patiently. And if I am to do nothing, let me do it gallantly. Make these words more than words, and give me the Spirit of Jesus. Amen.