Despair in the Battle
Like so many other young men, I struggled with lust. I hated my sin, and was determined to put it to death. Each time I repented, I made new resolutions and commitments. I tried being more fervent in spiritual disciplines. I got more involved in my church. I signed up for all kinds of service opportunities at my Christian college. But no matter how hard I tried, nothing seemed to work. The more effort I put in, the more frustrated I became.
Eventually, I switched tactics. Instead of trying harder, I decided to “let go and let God.” I devoured every book I could find on the “victorious Christian life.” If I could just get that spiritual breakthrough, I thought, I’d have victory over sin! The elusive breakthrough, of course, never came. Despite my fervency and determination, I kept yielding to sinful temptation.
The guilt was crushing. I was on the verge of despair. But that’s when God graciously began a work of lasting transformation.
Memorizing and Meditating on Romans 6-8
One Sunday after church, a godly deacon came up to me—completely unaware of the inner battle I was fighting. He asked if I’d be interested in memorizing and meditating on Romans 6-8 with him and a few other guys over the course of the semester. That idea seemed pretty daunting. I had never memorized such a large portion of Scripture before. Despite my hesitations, I agreed to do this with him and the others.
The plan he gave us was pretty straightforward. Each week, we had to do three things:
- Read all three chapters (ideally, out loud) in one sitting;
- Memorize and mediate on the assigned verses for the week;
- Quote the verses to someone in the group and share how the truths you meditated on shape the way you think, feel, and pray about your pursuit of Christlikeness.
A Transformative Experience
Immersing myself in the truths of Romans 6-8 with a group of godly brothers was one of the most life-changing things I’ve ever experienced. It completely reshaped the way I thought about the Christian life and my identity in Christ. For the first time, I truly understood (and believed!) that I was dead to sin, alive unto God, and free in Christ. The power, promises, and provisions of the gospel leaped off the pages of Scripture as I read and reread the chapters each week. My hope in God grew as I meditated upon His sovereign work of love in my salvation. The Lord brought the liberating truths of these chapters to mind when temptations arose, enabling me to reject sin’s lies as I “preached the gospel to myself.” The more time I spent in these chapters, the more joy, confidence, and gratitude I experienced in my walk with Christ.
Concluding Challenge
The Christian life is war. We will battle with sin until the day we die. But there’s hope. Christ has already won the victory. In Him we have everything that we need to live an obedient, fruitful, God-glorifying life. He has given us His Spirit and a proven strategy to mortify sin and walk in newness of life. Psalm 119:9-11 states, How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. As we memorize and meditate on the Scriptures, the Lord renews our minds, revives our hearts, and reshapes our lives into the image of Christ.
Many of you reading this blog might be feeling deeply discouraged in your battle with sin. Maybe you’ve tried different things, but nothing has “worked.” Perhaps you’re tempted to give in to despair Iike I nearly did years ago. Friend, can I encourage you to memorize and meditate on the gospel-rich truths of Romans 6-8 with a group of likeminded believers in your church? As you prayerfully immerse yourself in these life-giving words of Scripture, I believe that the Lord will do an enduring work of transformation in your life as well.