February 12 — War with Sin

Hope for Today: A Daily Devotion from Reasons for Hope*Jesus

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“I find then a law, that evil is present with me.” Romans 7:21

O my soul, you are always striving — yet sin is always stirring. You fear the truth of grace — because you find the working of sin; but it will be always thus. You cannot come out of Egypt — but Amalek will lay wait in the way. He, therefore, who sits down and is at rest in sin — proves that he is under the dominion of Satan, who thus keeps his kingdom in peace.

But where there is any work of Christ, there will be always war with sin. Sin was the source of death — and death will be the tomb of sin.

God would have my soul humbled; therefore, though He has broken my prison — yet He has left the chain upon my feet.

God would have my graces exercised; therefore, though He has translated me into the kingdom of life — yet He has left the Canaanite in the land.

God would have my faith manifested and invigorated; therefore Goliath still shows himself in the field, that so I might go out to him “in the name of the Lord.” I will betake me to the strength of Christ; and though I cannot help the rebelling power of sin — yet through grace, I will labor to prevent the ruling power of it.

Devotion by Karl Heinrich von Bogatzky (1690—1774)