I Know

I always thought I was an average or below average student in high school. Recently I needed my high school transcripts for a job application. When I saw my grades, I was amazed. They were actually better than average. Yes, there were a few poor grades, but the rest were certainly nothing for me to be ashamed of.

Now I won’t claim to be brilliant or super intelligent, but I do know a few things. Especially when it comes to the subjects that I excelled in through high school and college. Home economics, business, music, and the Bible are topics that I still enjoy studying and developing.

There are some things I know from Scripture as well. If we look at the book of Romans, Paul shares some of the “we knows.” Let’s look at them.

Romans 3:17 “The way of peace they do not know.” In my sin I cannot know peace, but through Jesus and forgiveness of my sin, I can know peace.

Romans 3:19 “Now we know that whatever the law says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.” I can only find righteousness through Jesus, not the law. I am accountable to God.

Romans 6:6-7 “For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.” I’ve put aside the life of sin because I don’t have to be a slave to sin any longer.

Romans 7:14 “We know that the law is spiritual, but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.” I can be rebellious and because of that rebellion, I can be considered unspiritual.

Romans 7:18 “I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.” I can’t seem to do what is right all the time. I want to, but just can’t seem to do so.

Romans 8:22 “We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.” Creation awaits the future glory that we are also waiting for. When there is no longer any decay, destruction, or death.

Romans 8:26 “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.” We do not always know what to pray, but the Holy Spirit does.

Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” God is at work in me. Making me a better person, because I love Him and am living according to His guidelines.

Even though my sinful nature is still part of my life, God is working on me. He is creating a new creation within me. By reading the entire book of Romans, we can see the progression through leading to this very point.

I know sinful nature is within me. I know I want to do the right thing, but sometimes I allow that sinful nature to take a lead role. I know I cannot live by the law, because I am not righteous. I know it’s only through Jesus and His grace that I can am made righteous. I know I must crucify my sinful nature daily. I know I long for my future home. I know that God’s Holy Spirit is at work in my life. I know that I am not the person I was when I started on this journey.

Sometimes making a list puts everything into perspective. It certainly does in this situation. It helps me to realize what I do know, where I fit in to what I know, and how God can change me because of what I know. I love being in the know.

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna