Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you also were put to death in relation to the law through the body of Christ so that you may belong to another. You belong to him who was raised from the dead in order that we may bear fruit for God…
But now we have been released from the law, since we have died to what held us, so that we may serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the old letter of the law. (Romans 7:4, 6)
“That I might belong to another.”
Those words resonated with me this morning.
I used to be sin’s slave, subject to God’s judgment because I’d broken his law.
But now I have died as sin’s slave and the law no longer has power over me. The law is for lawbreakers (1 Timothy 1:9), and as far as the law is concerned, this lawbreaker is dead.
But after my death, Jesus raised me to new life, and now I belong to him, serving and bearing fruit for him. And I do this, not by trying to keep a bunch of dos and don’ts, but by walking with his Spirit, moment to moment, day to day.
Yes, I still struggle with sin. That battle is not yet finished.
But here’s the truth I cling to:
I’m my beloved’s and he is mine. And his banner over me is love. (Song of Solomon 2:4 ; 6:3)