A Match Made in Heaven: Joined to the Living Christ

The Scripture: Romans 7:4–6
Paul doesn't leave us in a state of "singleness." We were released from the Law specifically so that we might be "joined to another"—the Risen Christ. This is the heart of the Christian life: union. We aren't just following a teacher; we are joined to a Living Person.

The goal of this new marriage is productivity: "that we might bear fruit for God."
Under the Law, we produced "fruit for death" because our service was fueled by fear and "the letter." But in Christ, we serve in the "newness of the Spirit." It is the difference between a wife who cleans the house because she fears a beating and a wife who cleans the house because she loves her husband.

Puritan Wisdom: John Flavel beautifully noted, "Christ is the husband of the soul... He is a foundation that never fails, a robe that never wears out." He argued that our union with Christ is the only thing that makes obedience "sweet" rather than "sweat."

Application: If your Christian life feels like a heavy chore, you might be focusing on the mechanics of the Law rather than the Person of Christ. Today, practice "abiding." Before you start your "to-do" list, spend five minutes thanking Christ for His union with you. Service flows from the Spirit, not the "oldness of the letter."