Diving Deep Into the Word Can Be Hard But God Buoys Us Up!

I am in training to be a life guard.  Interestingly enough I have always wanted to be a life guard.  I am not sure why but I am well on my way to completing all the training.

During the training you learn about how to intentionally scan the pool for potential problems in order to prevent an emergency situation.  It is important to scan the various depths of the pool as well to ensure that no one is under the water for too long.  

Fatigue is a life guards worst enemy because it can hinder their ability to perceive the true nature of an emergency and respond quickly and appropriately.  

Have you ever noticed when you are reading to word of God that you are distracted or tired?  In order to perceive the true nature of God we must prayerfully and expectantly approach the Word of God with scanning hearts and minds.

The Word of God seems to have layer upon layer of meaning.  Just when you think you have plumbed the depths of the word in one area, there seems to be a deeper well of truth that that springs up and in fact never runs dry.  

But diving deep takes effort and stamina as well as a willingness to go deep because it can be difficult.  Kind of like diving down into the deep end of a pool, you have to push through the initial layer of water and the farther down you go the more resistance you experience but if you push through you can touch the bottom and then the water buoys you up to the surface.  

God's word is similar in that it can be difficult to tread through as you try to go deeper but when you reach a certain point it buoys you up!  It serves to bolster your faith in God.  

As we dive into the word of God often we are overwhelmed by our inability to do what pleases the Lord.  Paul wrestled with the very same frustration,

Romans 7:14-24

For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, 

sold under sin.  For I do not understand my own actions.  

For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.  

Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good.  So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.  For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. 

 For I have the desire to do what is right, 

but not the ability to carry it out.  

For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep doing.  Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.  

So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, 

evil lies close at hand.  

For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 

but I see in my members another law waging war 

against the law of my mind and making me captive 

to the law of sin that dwells in my members.  

Wretched man that I am!  

Who will deliver me from this body of death?

Paul has sunk to the depths of despair with his default to uphold the law and finding himself lacking even though he himself had all the right credentials to be found upholding the law but he was incapable!

At the end of his despair he reaches for the deep things of Christ in verse 25,

Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!  

So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, 

but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.  

Through Christ's sacrifice we can serve God and be law abiding citizens of the kingdom of God because Jesus walked out the law perfectly.  He was the only law abiding citizen but because I have faith in Him I say, along with Paul, 

Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!  

We may sing the same song as Paul, despairing in our continual sinful nature BUT NOW God has provided a propitiatory sacrifice through Jesus Christ so that we can enter the Most Holy Place and stand righteous before God!  

Thanks be to God!!!!!  

Father, thank you for your word that is truth and light and brings to light our sin but does not leave us in the deep end with out a life guard but threw us a life preserver by sending Jesus to die for our sins and buoy us up through the surface of your great love so that we can breathe the very breath of God and be refreshed in our pursuit of you today.