September 16, 2019
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”
Romans 8:1
What would we do without this verse…this truth? I think I would have given up and died, honestly. At a very specific time in my life that I had a major failure, I repeated this verse often. In the months that followed that failure, I would scribble; “there is therefore now no” on slips of paper to keep the truth constantly in front of me. It was so impactful because I did not trust myself to continue to make right choices and I condemned myself for the former choices I had made. I was very in touch with what Paul wrote here in Romans 7:15-25;
“For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice, but what I hate, that I do. If then, I do what I will not to do, that I do not practice, but what I hate, that I do. If then I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do: but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. How if I do what I will not to do, it is not longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 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. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God- through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
While I was in sin, making ultimate choices to sin, I would will to do good, set my mind to do good and then do evil. I take heart in Paul’s example and so should you. Even though he was dedicated to serving God, he fell short of God’s moral standards. He was conflicted, a place I found myself many times. But as he clearly states in verse 8:1, we are free from the law of sin when we walk according to the Spirit, remembering that we are in Christ Jesus. Jesus is who started turning to, continually, for my “escape”. I chose to agree with the truth that Jesus was the only power able to save me from all the lies of the devil would tempt me with and all the feelings that accompanied them. Jesus is where our freedom is found, one second, one minute and one day at a time.
Let’s Pray.
Father of mercy, Jesus savior, Holy Spirit of truth., continue to walk with me in freedom through Jesus Christ who has made me free. I set my mind, will and emotions on the Spirit and I pray for the Spirit to keep me. I desire freedom from my bondage and complete healing. I look to You, Spirit, to provide all that I need according to your rices in glory. Help me to continually turn to You for relationship, attention, affections, strength, peace and love. In Jesus’ mighty name, amen.