Our Scripture this morning is very personal to me but too long to print here. I will leave it up to you to take a few minutes and find a quiet place and read Paul’s words found in Romans 7:15-25. It is a Scripture I use often, for it describes the dilemma I find myself in frequently.
Hey Gang, there was a tradition at good old Findlay College, when I first attended: each sophomore class challenged the freshman class to an old fashioned tug-of-war. There were few rules and minimal strategies. The outcome was based on pure brute strength.
Each side had but one goal in mind, bragging rights for the year. Plain and simple we wanted to pull the other team into the mud pit. As much as I hate to admit it, I experienced the ‘grossness’ of the mud pit both years.
It is a very simple exercise and many people believe that is what is going on inside our souls – a tug of war, raging inside of us, between good and evil. They believe Satan pulls us one way, and Jesus pulls the other way, each straining at the opposite end of the rope hoping to pull us in their direction.
Many people think that we are like the rope, powerless, just caught in the middle of two powerful forces. Some days, goodness (the white dog) gets the upper hand and some days evil (the black dog) has obviously eaten its ‘Wheaties’ and we lose the battle.
As president of a program that provided young folks who had made some bad decisions in their lives with encouragement and a shirt tail to hang onto, it was my privilege to speak in the Chapel services periodically. One of my favorite themes was “Who is winning the battle for your soul, the white dog or the black dog?”
Paul makes no bones about it; the world we live in has a very strong tendency to throw most of the bones the black dog’s way. Does that mean Paul is ready to throw in the towel? Not in your sweet bippy! His battle cry is, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2) Somewhere along the line, God whispers in our ear, “My son, My grace will rescue you.”
Soooo, lads and lassies, be advised that God’s grace is sufficient to whip the black dogs out of your life, but you have to be aware of your feeding habits – are you feeding the black dog with your thoughts and actions? Or are you feeding the white dog with Scripture and time with the Lord?. Which are you starving and which one are you nourishing?
Blessings
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