“For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death.” (Romans 7:11, NIV)

Kids at school are warned about smoking, alcohol and drugs. The message is quit clear: Avoid them at all cost. Many make a commitment to never smoke nor take drugs; however, once under peer pressure at high school, many of them cave in.

One grade 7 teacher had received a commitment from 26 of his students to never smoke. Only two of his 28 students abstained from making that commitment. A few years later, he would learn that 26 of his former students were now smoking. Only two has stood by their commitment. Although they had been warned of the consequences, peer pressure caused them to give in.

A couple of students taking a Sociology class at a nearby high school decided to find out how many of the student body were taking drugs. They were quite surprised! 85% of the students had tried drugs at one time or another, while 65% were taking drugs daily. They had been warned, but they didn’t take it to heart.

We may ask “why”, but then we have to ask the same question about why we, too, fall into one kind of temptation or another. Why did Eve give in? Why did Adam follow in her steps? Why are we doing the same thing?

There may be many reasons, but none of them can justify our actions. Only One took this fallen nature to heart, when He willingly died on a lonely cross so that we could find a breakthrough from our own stupidity. He died so that we could live. He rose from the dead, guaranteeing that victory is ours, if we accept His offer.

Quite a good deal, don’t you think? Still, many remain under the pressure of others, wallowing in despair. It doesn’t have to be this way. Only One can promise us: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4: 18,19, NIV)

In His love,

Rob Chaffart

(To access the entire “Radical Grace From the Book of Romans” devotional series, please click here.)