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Sample Bible Study
Light for the Journey
The Battle is On!
Mary Southerland
I will never forget the day I realized that our beautiful, precious six-month-old son, Jered, was a pagan! I had just returned from running errands and was busy putting groceries away in the kitchen, which had a pass-through opening that enabled me to keep an eye on Jered while I worked. He seemed contented as he played with his toys, occasionally taking a break to terrorize our two cats.
 When Jered first began to crawl, we removed any knick-nacks that might hurt him, most of our breakables and everything of sentimental value. We had, however, left a beautiful conch seashell on the living room coffee table and used it to begin the arduous but vital task of teaching Jered the meaning of "no". We would repeatedly point to the shell, touch it and say, "No, no!" Of course, he was a brilliant and brilliant child :) but I wasn't sure if he had really grasped the whole concept - until that momentous day.
With the last of the groceries put away, I dumped a bag of potatoes into the kitchen sink and began peeling them for dinner. Glancing up, I saw Jered staring at the alluring shell, a mischievous grin on his face. Suddenly, he launched into a fast crawl straight toward the forbidden shell. I winced as I pictured what he could do to that shell and what the sharp-edged shell could do to his small, tender hands. I called out in a firm, confident voice, "Jered, no!"
In mid-crawl, my son stopped, sat up and looked back at me while seeming to consider his options and weigh the consequences. As I repeated the warning, he joyfully clapped his hands, flashing me an adorable smile. What a great kid! He's got it!
I started around the corner to give him a hug and to praise him for his obedience only to see him take off like a shot, crawling as fast as his chubby little hands and knees would carry him. Reaching the coffee table, Jered grabbed the shell and plopped it in his lap like a hard-earned trophy.
I gasped in disbelief as his face reflected total triumph! He knew exactly what he was doing and he was not one bit sorry! My perfect little boy had a rebellious heart ...just like his mother.
We are all born with a nature that loves to rebel with a natural "bent" toward selfish, wrong choices. However, when we come to Christ, we receive a new nature that naturally desires to obey God. The result is internal civil war. I will never forget the first time I read the words of Paul, "I don't understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I don't do it." (Romans 7:15 NLT) I was actually relieved!
 Sometimes it seems like I am the only person in the world who battles sin. Paul's words, however, assure me that I am not alone in this war. And neither are you, my friend. As long as we live in this broken and fallen world, the battle for control our lives will rage.
How do we win that war?
The solution is really very simple. We surrender!
I know it sounds like I am out in left field on this one, but the unchangeable reality is that when we give everything we know about ourselves to everything we know about God, we win! As we daily exchange our plan for His, we will grow in faith and live a life we only once dreamed of living - now and forever!
So, yes, my friend, the battle is on...but victory is just ahead!
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