February 21: O Wretched Man
♫ Music:
Day 8 - Wednesday, February 21
Title: O WRETCHED MAN
Scripture: Romans 7:14-25 (NKJV)
For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.
Poetry & Poet:
“For the Record”
by Adrienne Rich
The clouds and the stars didn't wage this war
the brooks gave no information
if the mountain spewed stones of fire into the river
it was not taking sides
the raindrop faintly swaying under the leaf
had no political opinions
and if here or there a house
filled with backed-up raw sewage
or poisoned those who lived there
with slow fumes, over years
the houses were not at war
nor did the tinned-up buildings
intend to refuse shelter
to homeless old women and roaming children
they had no policy to keep them roaming
or dying, no, the cities were not the problem
the bridges were non-partisan
the freeways burned, but not with hatred
Even the miles of barbed-wire
stretched around crouching temporary huts
designed to keep the unwanted
at a safe distance, out of sight
even the boards that had to absorb
year upon year, so many human sounds
so many depths of vomit, tears
slow-soaking blood
had not offered themselves for this
The trees didn't volunteer to be cut into boards
nor the thorns for tearing flesh
Look around at all of it
and ask whose signature
is stamped on the orders, traced
in the corner of the building plans
Ask where the illiterate, big-bellied
women were, the drunks and crazies,
the ones you fear most of all: ask where you were.
O WRETCHED MAN
Thomas Merton describes the inner struggle with sin as “. . . the anguish of being helpless to be anything but what you were not meant to be.” (New Seeds of Contemplation, 263). Whether or not Merton had Romans 7:14-24 in mind, his words suggest that what Paul has to say in this text does not usually generate joy and happiness in the reader because people can easily relate to that inner struggle and submit to its mastery over their lives. The Gospel then becomes, according to Dallas Willard, a life-long battle known as “sin management” (The Divine Conspiracy, 41), where sin retains its life-draining power over their lives and must be daily engaged in the form of an internal wrestling match.
But Merton, like Paul, doesn’t let the conversation stop there. He goes on to say, “. . . it is this helplessness that we come upon the beginning of joy.”
Why would that be? Why would this inner struggle that is so common in the lives of the faithful be such that it generates the seeds of joy? Paul gives us a hint of this joy when, at the end of his argument he exclaims:
“I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
Thank God? For what? For the incessant and daily struggle against sin? No, the thankfulness finds its source at the beginning of the next chapter:
"Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death." (Romans 8:1-2)
Yes, the struggle is real. The Law has revealed the nature of sin, and the push-pull between the good we desire and the evil that still emerges causes anguish. Both sin and death share something in common: they are inevitabilities. But in Christ, neither has ultimate power, either to control our destinies or to haunt our everyday lives. The focus of our lives need not be on the sin that seeks to dominate, but rather on the God who has freed us from condemnation through Christ Jesus.
In this season of Lent, it would be good if we would ask ourselves: Are we called into a place of inner torment about our propensity toward sin? Or does Lent draw us to a joyful place of helplessness before God? Our answers to these questions might say something about how we’ve come to understand God’s great redeeming work in the person of Jesus Christ.
The artwork by the Australian artist Rone seems to capture responses to these questions. While both images show rooms devastated by some violent action, the faces of the women reveal two different postures. One is a look of despair, a face of one whose hope has been depleted by loss. But the other is more of a sidelong, angry glare that seems to say, this damage will not have power over me.
And, in Jesus Christ, neither sin nor death have the immediate or ultimate say in our lives. Thanks be to God!
Prayer
Come, my Light,
and illumine my darkness.
Come, my Life,
and revive me from death.
Come, my Physician,
and heal my wounds.
Come, Flame of divine love,
and burn up the thorns of my sins,
kindling my heart
with the flame of thy love.
- Dimitrii of Rostov
Michael McNichols, D.Min.
Pastor and Author
For more information about the artwork, music, and poetry selected for this day, we have provided resources under the “About” tab located next to the “Devotional” tab.
About the Art:
Empty (Installation)
Rone
2016
Paint on derelict building walls
Old Lyric Theatre
Melbourne, Australia
Australian artist Rone’s exhibition titled Empty was created in the incredible 1920s Lyric Theatre in Melbourne, Australia. The derelict theatre, which had its heyday between 1922 and 1952, was marked for demolition. It provided the perfect setting for one of Rone’s series of murals that he had created in abandoned houses and buildings across the city of Melbourne. "I have this strange attraction to forgotten space," explained Rone. "I tend to see something beautiful in things that are derelict, dilapidated, forgotten." Another highlight of the exhibition for Empty was the large-scale portrait on the back wall of the building. When Rone first started preparing for the exhibition, he discovered a mural from the theatre's glory days that had been painted over. Taken by this relic of the building's former grandeur, Rone decided to paint around the vintage mural.
https://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/abandoned-buildings-adorned-stunning-portraits-women
About the Artist:
Rone is a Melbourne artist who has carved a distinct niche for himself by creating large-scale walk-through installations that breathe life into long-forgotten spaces. Transitioning from solely painting murals, Rone has embarked on a transformative journey: together with his collaborators, Rone orchestrates the construction of these immersive installations, often reminiscent of movie sets. Every aspect, from designing the furniture to meticulously placing cobwebs and dust, is executed with unparalleled attention to detail. The result is an enchanting fusion of sight, sound, and atmosphere, as carefully crafted soundscapes intertwine with dynamic lighting sequences. Rone's work is a testament to the power of transformation, breathing new life into forgotten spaces and engaging audiences in a multisensory journey. With each installation, he pushes the boundaries of artistic expression, inspiring viewers to question their perceptions and embrace the beauty of impermanence.
https://rone.art/pages/about-us
About the Music #1:
“O Wretched Man” from the album All I Need
Lyrics #1:
O wretched man, that I am.
Who'll deliver me, from this body of death?
O wretched man, that I am.
Who'll deliver me, from this body of death?
I thank God, I thank God.
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
I thank God, I thank God.
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord
For the wages of sin, is death.
But the gift of God is eternal life.
For the wages of sin, is death.
But the gift of God is eternal life.
I thank God (I thank the Lord, I thank the Lord)
I thank God (I thank the Lord, I thank the Lord)
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord (Through His Son x3)
I thank God (I thank the Lord, I thank the Lord)
I thank God (I thank the Lord, I thank the Lord)
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord (Through His Son x3)
I praise God (I praise the Lord, I praise the Lord)
I praise God (I praise the Lord, I praise the Lord)
For Jesus Christ, our Lord (For His Son x4)
I praise God (I praise the Lord, I praise the Lord)
I praise God (I praise the Lord, I praise the Lord)
For Jesus Christ, our Lord (For His Son x4)
Twenty-seven fold
Amen
About the Composers/Performers #1:
The Acappella Company is an all-male contemporary Christian vocal group founded in 1982 by Keith Lancaster, who has been a singer, songwriter, and producer throughout the group's history. The group consists of vocalists who sing in the a cappella style without any instrumental accompaniment. Acappella's fan base steadily grew through the 1980s as the group experienced many lineup changes and constantly experimented with fresh new sounds. Their landmark album Sweet Fellowship (1988) ushered in one of the most significant developments in the group's membership and style. At that time, Lancaster stepped out of the group as lead singer to focus on the role of producer and manager. The group continued to change after that, developing a unique sound that has been mimicked by countless groups around the world. After exploring various musical styles over more than three decades, Acappella has returned to its roots, utilizing an extensive host of alumni vocalists to fill current concerts. Acappella's worldwide impact was recognized with the group's 2007 induction into the Christian Music Hall of Fame.
https://acappella.org/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acappella_(group)
About the Music #2:
“Romans VII” from the album The Ministry Years, Vol.2
Lyrics #2:
The very things I hate, I end up doing,
The things I want to do, I just don't do.
Lord it seems so sad, why am I so bad?
When in my heart I only want to be like you.
The very ones I love I end up hurting,
The ones I want to help I pass right by.
Now I want to be, finally set free
The grace you've shown, the love I've known,
Please let it shine through me.
I want to love them, the way you do,
I want to serve them, by serving you.
Lord how I know your tender heart must be broken,
By all those unkept promises I've made,
The question still prevails, please take away the veil,
About how you forgive, and still you live inside when I fail.
I want to love them all, the way you do,
I want to serve them, by serving you.
I want to be like you; Jesus I do.
I want to love them all, the way you do,
I want to serve them, by serving you.
Yes, I want to be like you; Jesus I do.
About the Composer/Performer #2:
Keith Green (1953–1982) was an American contemporary Christian music pianist, singer, and songwriter originally from Brooklyn, New York. Beyond his music, Green is best known for his strong devotion to Christian evangelism and challenging others to the same. Often considered controversial for his frequently confrontational lyrics and spoken messages, he wrote some notable songs alone and with his wife, Melody Green, including "Your Love Broke Through,” "You Put This Love in My Heart,” and "Asleep in the Light.” Green is also known for numerous popular modern hymns, including "O Lord, You're Beautiful" and "There is a Redeemer."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Green
About the Poetry and Poet:
Adrienne Cecile Rich (1929–2012) was an American poet and essayist. She was called "one of the most widely read and influential poets of the second half of the 20th century." Her first collection of poetry, A Change of World, was selected by esteemed poet W. H. Auden for the Yale Series of Younger Poets Award. Auden went on to write the introduction to her book. Rich famously declined the National Medal of Arts to protest then House Speaker Newt Gingrich's vote to end funding for the National Endowment for the Arts.
About the Devotion Writer:
Michael McNichols, D.Min.
Pastor and Author
Mike McNichols is a pastor and served as director of Fuller Seminary’s regional campus in Irvine, California, for over thirteen years. He and his wife, Emily, live in Orange County, California.