Daily Devotional for Saturday, February 8

The Battle of the Two Natures

"For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not;' Romans 7:18.

If you read our key verses for today very quickly, they almost sound like apage in aDr. Suess book. I know that what Paul wrote is much more serious, but it also reminds me of when I was livingalone andhad to decide what to eat for dinner. What was healthy for me was to cook the fresh vegetables andbake the chicken, but what I wanted to do was eat an entire pint of ice cream after eating half the giant tub of cheese puffs because then I would not have to cook and clean the kitchen.

In Paul's letters to the Galatians and to the Romans, Paul reminded the new Christians that they were no longer bound to the Law as ameans to gain salvation. Those who place their faith in Christ now live by the Spirit. Does that mean at the moment of salvation we are no longer tempted to sin? Paul said just the opposite. We wereborn withasinnature from Adam, and there will always be temptation to sin. The difference in a believer is the power of the Holy Spirit to withstand that temptation and choose to do that which is good. Most sinful desires are rooted in selfishness which is the opposite of godly love, demonstrated in humility. Inside each Christian there is abattle using our freedom to sin and using our freedom to serve others. Will we always get it right? Of course not, but because we are in Christ there is no condemnation when we falter. The reason for salvation is to recognize that we could not possibly always get everything right and that we need a Savior.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Do not be discouraged when the tension between the flesh and the Spirit rises

in your heart and mind. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you and kill the fleshly desires.

Ashley Ridings