Thank Him for the War
“For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.” Romans 6:14
Becoming a Christian in my early twenties, I often reflect how my actions are often disappointing and shameful. Additionally, gains in understanding spiritual truths have produced little improvements in my spiritual walk.
The apostle describes this frustration perfectly, “I know that good itself doesn’t dwell in me, that is in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I can’t carry it out. I don’t do the good I want to do, but it’s the evil I don’t want to do that I keep doing.” (Romans 7:18-19)
Fellow pilgrim, let’s take heart together and look to Jesus who said, “without Me you can do nothing.”
He gave the Holy Spirit to dwell in us. Our minds now set on what the Spirit desires, but the war also began between the flesh and the Spirit.
It is by the Spirit that we put to death the misdeeds of the body. Let me repeat this. By the Spirit we win the battles. We live in His realm – where He rules.
He helps in our weakness. We don’t know how to pray, and He intercedes for us according to God’s will.
He leads us and we are no longer slaves of sin. We don’t fear judgement anymore, since the Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
Before we were born, God foreknew us and predestined that we would be conformed to the image of His Son. This is God’s promise. He never lies.
Remember when we weren’t His? We had no battles simply following our desires without resistance. Let us thank Him for the war. Because He lives in us, we will be raised to life at the end.
“Lord Jesus thank you for giving us the Spirit! He lives in us and guarantees we will receive everything you have promised including eternal life. Remind us often that it is by His power living in us that we will follow you to the end.”
