"The book of Judges shows us what a world looks like in which people look inside of themselves rather than outside of themselves for the hero they are searching for. And it is not a pretty picture... But in the middle of this darkness and distress, Judges also presents us with hope--hope that a hero will come along, a hero who is ...not from inside us but
As I was reading Nancy's book for a women's group I lead for our church, Ladies of Riverside, it reminded me of these truths.
Because man, in his original state, under the Covenant of Works, was wired to work for God's favor, our natural inclination is to turn inward to save ourselves.
"Incurvatus in se (Latin for Turned/curved inward on oneself) is a theological phrase describing a life lived "inward" for oneself rather than "outward" for God and others.
Paul the Apostle wrote of this condition in the Epistle to the Romans 7:15, 7:18-19:
For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. ... For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
It was perhaps Augustine of Hippo who first coined the phrase incurvatus in se. Martin Luther expounded on this in his Lectures on Romans and described this state as:
Our nature, by the corruption of the first sin, [being] so deeply curved in on itself that it not only bends the best gifts of God towards itself and enjoys them (as is plain in the works-righteous and hypocrites), or rather even uses God himself in order to attain these gifts, but it also fails to realize that it so wickedly, curvedly, and viciously seeks all things, even God, for its own sake." ~quoted
As I consider my own sins and the sins of others, I need to remember the solution to our problem does not come from inside of us, but from our Hero, the Serpent Crusher promised to us centuries ago and before the foundations of the world, the Savior of Sinners, the Propitiation for our sins, the Friend of His enemies, Jesus Christ the Righteous. The *Gospel, His work "extra nos"--*outside of us, *for us is the answer. Today, remember His life death, burial, resurrection and persistent intercession *for us. He is our true and better Hero.
Food for thought:I will put hostility between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring.
He will strike your head,
and you will strike his heel. ~Genesis 3:15
She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” ~Matthew 1:21
And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. ~I John 2:2
For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. ~Romans 5:10
