good intentions...or are they?

"i do not understand what i do. for what i want to do i do not do, but what i hate i do. and if i do what i do not want to do, i agree that the law is good. as it is, it is no longer i myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. for i know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. for i have the desire to do what it is good, but i cannot carry it out. for i do not do the good i want to do, but the evil i do not want to do - this i keep on doing." (romans 7:15-19)

paul says it so perfectly. good and sinful nature cannot coexist. they are constantly at war with each other. sadly, it is our sinful nature that wins much of the time. and the few times that i actually do do good, that is pure grace. it is of God, not of me.

so often i fool myself into thinking that i have good intentions. good intentions that get derailed by sin. but really, sin is at the root of it it. i am not sure that even my intentions are good - unless God is at work i me through the Holy Spirit.

i think of myself as a good person. in fact, too often i think of myself as a great person. i am kind and caring and giving and generous. even loving at times. but come full circle, and what are my intentions in being so? i do it to win people's favor and affections. i do it pridefully so that others like me and think well of me. i am kind and caring and giving and generous...and even loving...for myself. not that i would otherwise intend harm or be mean to others - but i don't often do it purely out of love, Christ-like love, for others in order to glorify God and further His kingdom.

without Christ i don't even have good intentions. i am not great, or even good. i am just sinful nature with pride and selfish ambitions. i am thankful for grace and mercy and the chance to have life in Christ. i am thankful for the sacrifice He made for me, an utterly sinful being, so that i might live. not only that, i am thankful for the work of the Holy Spirit in me to help me grow and stretch and one day become holy because of Christ. i pray that my thankfulness and my realization of how sinful i am take over my life and be transformed.

You are good, You are good

when there's nothing good in me

You are love, You are love

on display for all to see

You are light, You are light

when the darkness closes in

You are hope, You are hope

You have covered all my sin

oh, i'm running to Your arms

i'm running to Your arms

the riches of Your love will always be enough

nothing compares to Your embrace

light of the world

forever reign

(forever reign - hillsong)

it always comes down to these three words: faith, hope, love. it always comes down to the work of the Trinity: Father, Son, Holy Spirit.