Bible League: Living His Word I love God's law with all my heart. But there is another law at work within me that is at war with my mind.— Romans 7:22-23 NLT There's a lie circulating around church culture. This lie takes today's verse out of context, suggesting that there's no hope to overcome the sinful nature, so there is no reason to try. If that's the case, then one might continually give into sin, believing, "If God just forgives me anyway, then I can ask forgiveness after I participate in it." Yet Paul goes on to explain that the person who will free him from a life dominated by sin is Jesus Christ (Romans 7:24-25). The root issue of how one is deceived into engaging in sin is that it begins in the mind (Romans 8:5-6). If your mind is controlled by your sinful nature, you cannot please God (Romans 8:6,8)! However, the hope of the matter is that you are not controlled by your sinful nature when you are in Christ. Although your body will die because of sin, your spirit is alive because you have been made right with God. The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you (Romans 8:9-11). Christian, you won't robotically do what you hate to do when you realize that you have no obligation whatsoever to obey your sinful nature (Romans 8:12). Regarding sin, the sobering reality of the hyper-grace false gospel is this: "For if you keep on following it, you will perish. But if through the power of the Holy Spirit, you turn from it and its evil deeds, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of the God are children of God" (Romans 8:13-14). "So, you should not be like cowering, fearful slaves. You should behave instead like God's very own children, adopted into his family—calling him "Father, dear Father" (Romans 8:15). Good behavior gratefully follows free righteousness. Celebrate the mighty power of the Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead. The next time the seed of rebellion is presented in your thoughts, take it captive to obey Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). Hope Himself is alive and well, living within you. By Jenny Laux, Bible League International contributor, Wisconsin USA Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingIsaiah 43, 44 Isaiah 43 -- Israel Redeemed; God's Mercy; Israel's Unfaithfulness NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Isaiah 44 -- God's Blessings upon Israel; The Foolishness of Idolatry; God's Will for Jerusalem's Inhabitation NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Colossians 2 Colossians 2 -- The Fullness of God Dwells in Christ and Gives Us Freedom NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Obviously, I'm not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ's servant.Insight Do you spend your life trying to please everybody? Paul had to speak harshly to the Christians in Galatia because they were in serious danger. He did not apologize for his straight-forward words, knowing that he could serve Christ faithfully if he allowed the Galatian Christians to remain on the wrong track. Challenge Whose approval are you seeking—others' or God's? Pray for the courage to seek God's approval above anyone else's. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Jeremiah 15:21 And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible.Note the glorious personality of the promise. I will, I will. The Lord Jehovah himself interposes to deliver and redeem his people. He pledges himself personally to rescue them. His own arm shall do it, that he may have the glory. Here is not a word said of any effort of our own which may be needed to assist the Lord. Neither our strength nor our weakness is taken into the account, but the lone I, like the sun in the heavens, shines out resplendent in all-sufficience. Why then do we calculate our forces, and consult with flesh and blood to our grievous wounding? Jehovah has power enough without borrowing from our puny arm. Peace, ye unbelieving thoughts, be still, and know that the Lord reigneth. Nor is there a hint concerning secondary means and causes. The Lord says nothing of friends and helpers: he undertakes the work alone, and feels no need of human arms to aid him. Vain are all our lookings around to companions and relatives; they are broken reeds if we lean upon them--often unwilling when able, and unable when they are willing. Since the promise comes alone from God, it would be well to wait only upon him; and when we do so, our expectation never fails us. Who are the wicked that we should fear them? The Lord will utterly consume them; they are to be pitied rather than feared. As for terrible ones, they are only terrors to those who have no God to fly to, for when the Lord is on our side, whom shall we fear? If we run into sin to please the wicked, we have cause to be alarmed, but if we hold fast our integrity, the rage of tyrants shall be overruled for our good. When the fish swallowed Jonah, he found him a morsel which he could not digest; and when the world devours the church, it is glad to be rid of it again. In all times of fiery trial, in patience let us possess our souls. Daily Light on the Daily Path Matthew 6:9 "Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.John 17:1 Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, John 20:17 Jesus said to her, "Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.'" Galatians 3:26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:15,16 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" • The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, Galatians 4:6,7 Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" • Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God. John 16:23,24 "In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you. • "Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full. 2 Corinthians 6:17,18 "Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE," says the Lord. "AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you. • "And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me," Says the Lord Almighty. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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