June 7th
“21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. ” Romans 7:21-23 NIV
Romans 6,7,8 provide crucial guidance for us in the path to freedom from sin. These chapters help us understand the struggle between sin in our bodies and the desire to please God. Paul referred to this struggle as a “war.”
Do you feel as though you have a war going on inside of you? You know what is right, but you always seem to do the wrong thing? Paul mentioned that he wrestled with this: “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.” Romans 7:19 NIV
Who can rescue us from this war against evil desires? Paul said that God will rescue us: “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God–through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:24-25 NIV). Additionally, the Holy Spirit actually intercedes for us with God through our prayers: “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express” (Romans 8:26 NIV).
Though we may not “feel” like the battle against sin in our bodies is finished, the reality is that God has already set us free to live in righteousness. Consider these verses that discuss our present freedom:
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2 NIV
“But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you” Romans 8:10-11 NIV
When our present circumstances don’t seem to match what the Bible says about our freedom, that’s where faith must come in and build the bridge for us. Faith believes in what is not yet seen. Jesus bought our freedom for us already, and now we must step out in faith, believing that we are free and that the Holy Spirit will help us live in that reality. We can use the above verses as reminders for our faith whenever we start doubting our freedom or are tempted to jump back into sin. God’s word has power that will help us stand in our faith and bring our freedom into full manifestation.
Questions for further thought:
Is there any limit to the power of faith when it is based in God’s promises? (Mark 9:23)
Why must we believe in what God has said in his word and not always trust what we see with our eyes? (Hebrews 11:1-3; 2 Corinthians 5:7)
Prayer:
“Lord God, thank you for granting me salvation through my faith in Jesus Christ. I agree with your word, Lord, and believe that I have been set free from sin and am free to live in righteousness. Please help me to continually walk by faith in what you have said and not give in to doubt. I pray that the full reality of my freedom in Christ and identity as a son of God will manifest in me. Thank you, Father! In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”