Today's Promise

He Sets Us Free

Today's Promise - January 22

Dr. Bill Bright


"I don't understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I can't. I do what I don't want to - what I hate...When I want to do good, I don't; and when I try not to do wrong, I do it anyway....It seems to be a fact of life that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong...So you see how it is: my new life tells me to do right, but the old nature that is still inside me loves to sin. Oh, what a terrible predicament I'm in! Who will free me from my slavery to this deadly lower nature? Thank God! It has been done by Jesus Christ our Lord. He has set me free" (Romans 7:15,19,21,24,25).

Harry gave every indication of being a happy, joyful, fruitful Christian. He was active in every major event of the church and many large citywide Christian efforts. He always had a high visibility, and because of his extrovertive, outgoing personality he seemed to be a model Christian.

Then one day I saw the real Harry. He just blurted it out.

"I'm a hypocrite - miserable, defeated, frustrated. I've lived a lie and worn a mask all my life, never wanting to reveal my true self. But I need help. I'm seriously thinking of committing suicide. I just can't live the Christian life, no matter how hard I try."

As I began reading Romans 7:15-25, he said, "That is my biography, the story of my life. I've done everything I know to find victory - to live the Christian life as I know I'm supposed to live it. But everything fails for me no matter how hard I try."

I encouraged him to read on. Paul asks the question in the 25th verse, "Who will free me from my slavery to this deadly lower nature?" Then he answers that question by saying "Thank God! It has been done by Jesus Christ our Lord. He has set me free."

If you are living a carnal life, as described in Romans 7, you can be liberated to experience a full and abundant, victorious and fruitful life, as you by faith claim the fullness and power of the Holy Spirit day by day, moment by moment.



18 
For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 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. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

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.


Today's Action Point

By faith, I will claim the power of the Holy Spirit to enable me to live the abundant, supernatural life that Jesus promised, so that I can bring glory to God by bearing much fruit.

Related Topics:
Devotional Romans 7

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