For a description of the (Y2) reading plan, see the “About” page.
Rom. 7
Compare and contrast serving “in the new way of the Spirit” with “the old way of the written code.” The law is good, but it produces death because it gives life to sin. Eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was only wrong because God said it was wrong. But when He declared it wrong, that is, He made a law, it generated the opportunity for sin, or disobedience to God’s law. So the law, which is good, and sin, which is bad, go hand in hand. This is a problem for us because we don’t have the power within ourselves to break the bonds of sin. We will never be able to fully obey the law even if we want to.
That is why it is so important to understand that in order to die to sin, we must also die to the law. Then we are free to be bound to God through His Spirit, who indwells us. The Spirit has the power to break those bonds. Thus, the Spirit produces life rather than death. So if we serve in the old way of the written code, we are serving in our own futile power, which can only lead to death. By serving in the new way of the Spirit, through faith, we allow Jesus to be our death so that He can be our life. Sin no longer steers the ship so we can stay on course toward God.
Ezek. 11-12
The Bible Project’s video on Ezekiel pointed out how God left His dwelling place and went to the exiles in Babylonia. My immediate thought was, “God is with us”. Immanuel. Jesus. God left His dwelling place and came to us, who have been driven from His presence because of our sin, in human form. He went into exile with us so that He could bring us back. “Although I sent them far away…yet for a little while I have been a sanctuary for them in the countries where they have gone…. I will gather you from the nations and bring you back…and I will give you back the land of Israel again.” (From Ez. 11:16-17).
Ps. 130
Pray this psalm slowly. What speaks to you? This Psalm foretells the message that Paul preached many years later when he wrote Romans 7. “If you, LORD, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.” (Ps. 130:3-4). God breaks the bonds of sin so that we can serve Him in the power of His Spirit.