Caught Again

July 5, 2023

Yesterday, Independence Day, got me thinking about our freedoms. We can choose to do, and to not do, so much in this country. I wish I could declare my independence from candy bars.

The stores “innocently” put displays of candy bars right near the checkout counter. I have the freedom to buy or not buy them. It’s my choice. They have a great variety, in brightly-colored wrappers. There are so many, and I don’t have to buy them. They look so good.

In this particular location of a store, everyone eventually has to linger. You are not always first in line, so you often have to wait while the person in front of you is being checked out. This is where you exercise your freedom to decide not to buy a candy bar.

Of course, I know I can choose to buy a candy bar. I have that freedom. God has blessed me with enough spare money that buying a candy bar won’t affect my ability to pay the light bill or cell phone bill or any of that.

I know that eating candy bars is a weakness of mine. They add unnecessary calories to my diet, and I have trouble resisting them. Too many make my weight, blood sugar, and cholesterol go up.

In Romans 7, Paul writes about this. “Why do I do what I hate, and not do what I know is good?” He goes on to say, “Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?” Man, he’s kind of hard on himself!

Still, I know the struggle. I’m glad he tells me where to turn for help, in the next verse: “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.” Romans 7:25

Not even candy bars can defeat me, if I’ll lean on Jesus.