NorthStar Community Daily Devotional

June 11

Scripture focus: I can anticipate the response that is coming: "I know that all God's commands are spiritual, but I'm not. Isn't this also your experience?" Yes. I'm full of myself—after all, I've spent a long time in sin's prison. What I don't understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. So if I can't be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God's command is necessary.  But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can't keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don't have what it takes. I can will it, but I can't do it. I decide to do good, but I don't really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.  It happens so regularly that it's predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God's commands, but it's pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.  I've tried everything and nothing helps. I'm at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn't that the real question?  The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different. Romans 7:14-25 The Message

The brain is one heck of a complicated system. It is made up of cells (that live in colonies), neurotransmitters that help cells chat with each other, and a bunch of other really complicated stuff. Not only do cells talk – they give each other feedback! Who knew? This feedback affects the cells that sent the messages initially and changes the message that will continue on to future cells that weren’t in on the initial conversation. It kind of reminds me of how families talk.

Michael (our son) decided that it was a great idea to see how many Phish concerts he could attend in his lifetime. Michael is no dummy. So he took his “cell” and headed off to have a conversation with the daddy cell in our colony. This was an intentional conversation. He could have come to me, the mommy cell, but I have a history of liking to keep my kids close to home base. Michael’s dad loves concerts. But Michael’s dad also loves me. That’s the background, now here’s the conversation.

“Dad, what do you think about me seeing how many Phish concerts I can attend in my lifetime? Do you think that’s a worthy life mission?”

“Wow! That sounds like fun! We could rent an RV, go to Phish concerts at night and visit all the baseball stadiums during the day. We could make it a family vacation. Your sister could take a leave from her job. Your brother could quit seminary! We could bring the dogs. Your mom could cook our meals on a camp stove!”

Michael pauses to prepare. “Well, we could...” And he walks off to find me.

“Mom, Dad said he totally agrees with me that I should go to all the Phish concerts I can possibly attend in my lifetime. He says that it’s a worthy cause, and that I can rent an RV with Ryan and David and travel the country all summer. He says it sounds like fun!”

To be continued...


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