“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.” Romans 7:15-20
Coming from the apostle Paul’s magnum opus, the book of Romans, in today’s daily bread, we look at a precise explanation from Paul on the raging battle of the flesh, in doing what we do not want to do but we do it anyway – sin. Everyday we experience this battle, regardless of what that is, with many temptations surround us these days. We find ourselves falling to it, committing what we hope not to do but we did it anyway.
Paul, pointed out here that in perpetually doing it, it is no longer that person we desire to be under God’s will but rather sin consumes us. Our only hope is we will be aware of this so we can escape victoriously from the temptations of the flesh and that is the good news – there is a way to be freed and delivered from this and that is through by walking in the Spirit – To walk in the spirit is to be convicted that will lead us in a humble surrender – repentance and confession in Christ. The Lord is faithful to provide ways that we can escape this. This is the truth and beauty of living in the spirit. Our flesh may fail but God is faithful to deliver us and lead us out of it. Only when we sincerely surrender.
Today, may you be encouraged that if you are struggling with a specific sin, that you know you do not want to do, but you do it anyway, call upon the name of the Lord to lead you out, lay that sin to Christ, and let the holy spirit do the work within you, to dwell in you. May you be moved in position yourself kneeling in prayer, receive forgiveness as you approach the throne of Christ and receive healing and restoration in Christ’s name.
