DEVOTION – DAY 289

Romans 7:15-17 “Battle Within”

 

Romans 7:15-17 “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.”

 

Have you ever driven a car and as you approached a set of traffic lights, the light changed from green to amber? The traffic laws require you to slow down your car to stop, for the amber light would turn to red. But have you ever given in to your desire to accelerate your car instead of slowing it down, in order for you the beat the traffic lights? You know it is wrong but yet, you want to do it?

 

This example was what the apostle Paul was referring to in these verses. Everyone experiences an internal struggle. We knew that we should be doing the right thing but we give in to our sin nature and purposely chose to do what was wrong. There is a constant tension and struggle within ourselves. Do we choose to do what is right, or do we choose to do what is wrong? In v16, Paul wrote that even when he knew he was being rebellious and disobedient to God, the Holy Spirit had revealed to him the goodness that was in God’s commands and that he should follow God’s commands.

 

A couple had a disagreement. As the disagreement went out of control, they became angry with each other. They knew that James 3:3-12 warned them about the need to control their tongue. But they both allowed their anger to control them instead. They ended up saying things that hurt each other. Once angry and hurtful words have been said, the damage had been done and the words can never be taken back or erased. The couple now regretted ever saying hurtful words. They realized that they had given into their sin nature. They had disobeyed God’s command in James 3:3-12. This couple is not alone in making this mistake. Anyone who had been angry and had cursed or swore at another person had also been guilty of the same thing.

 

Is our case hopeless? In Romans 7:15, Paul tells us “Thanks be to God, who deliver me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So, then, I myself in my mind am slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.” Paul tells us that there is hope. Our deliverance from sin does not come from following a set of laws and requirements. Our deliverance from sin comes from Jesus Christ. We will always struggle with the sin nature inside us, but the more we submit to the Holy Spirit inside of us, the more, we will choose to do what is right.

 

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Please help us to submit to Your Spirit, so that we can be more like Christ and give in less to our sin nature. In the matchless name of the Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

 

Questions

  1. What are some sin areas you struggle with?
  2. How does this devotion help you and give you hope that you do not have to give in to your sin nature? Discuss.
  3. What are some practical steps you can take to overcome these sin areas?