ODJ: batting 1.000
June 14, 2011
I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong (v.21).
READ: Romans 7:6-25
Baseball determines a player’s batting average by dividing his total number of hits by the number of times he’s batted. If a player hits the ball every time he bats, he’s batting 1.000 (or one thousand). For as long as baseball has been around, no player has ever batted 1.000. And just as no baseball player has ever achieved batting perfection, so no follower of Jesus has ever been perfect either. No one would have understood this better than the apostle Paul.
Romans 7 reflects Paul’s personal admission of not being able to bat 1.000. It emphasizes that believers in Jesus will be made perfect one day, but will still struggle with sin this side of heaven. In these verses Paul taught the Romans at least three important principles:
• Christians can and should continually grow in sanctification through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. Though they will never bat 1.000 in living holy lives, it doesn’t mean they shouldn’t try (v.6).
• Christians will struggle with sin throughout their lives (Romans 7:21; Galatians 5:17). No follower of Jesus has ever nor ever will bat 1.000.
• Daily deliverance from this constant tension is found in the once dead and now living Jesus, the only One who ever batted 1.000 (Romans 7:25; Hebrews 4:15).
As followers of Jesus, we should be profoundly aware of how far we fall short of God’s absolute of righteousness, and how important it is to allow the One who lived a perfect life to live through us. Also, we should continue to feed our faith, shower people with grace when they fail to reach the goal, and refuse to become discouraged when we miss the mark. Repent, receive God’s forgiveness, forget the past, and move on. You’ll never bat 1.000, but a perfect Savior walks with you. —Marvin Williams
How do you respond when you sin and fall short of God’s absolute standard? In what ways can you let the living Christ live through you day by day?
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