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Adrian Moore

Jan 16 Devotion: The Battle Continues

Romans 7:23-25

23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

 

The Apostle Paul was a saved man. I do not believe that statement could be called into question. But there was a part of him that was just as wicked and vile as it had ever been. He had been a persecutor of the church. He had believers in Christ thrown in prison and (in some cases like Stephen) had them killed. He was religiously zealous, thinking that he was doing right, but he was not a good man. As a saved man (and under the inspiration of God) he said in the above verses, “O wretched man that I am.” He did not say that he used to be wicked in the past only because his statement is in the present tense. He says there is still a wicked man that lives in him.

 

It would serve us well to remember that God has saved us from sin, forgiven us, delivered us, and secured us. But God did not save our sin nature. Our flesh is still flesh and Paul says it must be battled. He called it “warring”. There is an internal battle that takes place within the saved. The old man wants to keep on doing everything it has always done, and the new man wants to serve and honor God. There is a war taking place between the flesh and the Spirit. (Galatians 5:17) It is two opposing forces living in the same proximity, within the body. Both want to win out and both are fighting for supremacy. To ignore this truth is to lose the battle. The word of God has much to say about the necessary diligence that must take place within us. Remember the Bible is clear. The just shall live by faith. There must be a constant reliance upon God. We must yield to him and not to the old man. There can never be a time when we become lazy in our diligence. The old man is relentless. He fights to win, he fights dirty, and he does not take losing well. As a matter of fact, the old man refuses to acknowledge the loss of his control. He keeps on fighting to maintain whatever victories he can secure. This will be a battle that must be fought until the day that Jesus calls us home.

 

Let us end this thought with this truth. God is greater than any problem, any obstacle, or any difficulty. We do not have to lose this battle. We can win and live the kind of life that brings honor and glory to God. Paul did and he was still a “wretched man.” You can, too.


In Christ's Service,

Bro. Adrian Moore

2 Cor. 4:5

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