Self Determination
The Humiliating Secret part 2

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
(1Cor 15:56)

Some people are so allergic to bees, that one sting can kill them. All of us are allergic to sin, it wages war against your soul. (1Pet 2:11) And it's sting has killed us all. It is so deadly that Jesus calls everyone who does not find their freedom in him "slaves to sin" (John 8:34), and "the dead" (Matt 8:22). No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. (1John 3:6-7)

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. (1Cor 15:56) When we try, but fail to overcome sin, we despair of our ability. God, by his grace, is using his good law to teach us something.

You have good reason to hate sin. On our road to freedom in Christ, this is our first lesson: the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. (Rom 7:14)

Sit down, beloved sinner, in the depth of your frustration. Consider carefully... self determination deceived you into arrogantly believing that you could find your own fulfillment, and trapped you in sin. Now your blistered soul has been swinging the same deceptive hammer of self determination, trying to break free. To your despair, there is not a dent. Not one chip is removed from the chains that enslave you. I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. (Rom 7:18)

If you are trapped in sin, (and all of us either are, or have been), it was self determination that caused you to dig for water where there is none. Are we now, by self determination, going to free ourselves and find refreshment? (see Gal 3:3) May the Spirit of God break our bondage to self determination. It has no ability to bring us lasting satisfaction, neither can it free us from sin. Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. (see Gal 3:24)

Lord Jesus, when I first turned to you, it was by your grace, not by my understanding. I thought that you would help my self determination to walk in righteousness. I was wrong. Help me now to see that you free me from self determination, to fully rely on you, and to trust you. In my weakness, help me to trust in your strength.

Today's very great and precious promise

As sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Rom 5:21)

You have God's Word on it.