Hello ,
When
Andre Agassi's memoir came out, the key revelation of the book was this: Andre Agassi—a former number one ranked player in the world, winner of eight grand slams and millions of dollars—hated tennis. Listen to this:
I hate tennis. I hate it with a dark, secret passion and always have. … I hate tennis, hate it with all my heart, and still I keep playing, keep hitting all
morning and all afternoon, because I have no choice. No matter how much I want to stop, I don't. I keep begging myself to stop, and still I keep playing, and this gap, this contradiction between what I want to do and what I actually do, feels like the core of my life.*
Compare his statement, with the following scripture:
For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. Romans 7:14-17
Fact is, the Apostle Paul struggled with hating the fact that he was doing something, but he seemed powerless NOT to continue doing it. I've heard theologians bat around conclusions about these verses that questioned whether or not these statements were given BEFORE or AFTER the conversion of Paul. My take is this: It really doesn't matter, because the Apostle never stops needing Jesus on either side of
the equation.
How is it with you? Do you often struggle with doing what you HATE to do in the spiritual realm? Are you challenged with WANTING to do something different, but DOING WHAT YOU ALWAYS DO....ANYWAY?
I am so thankful for a God that wants to be part of our lives, and is willing to
be the Divine Solution to our struggles.
Have a great day and God bless!
*Quoted
in Tim Suttle, Shrink (Zondervan, 2014) pp. 107-108
