Daily Devotion

 With Pastor Ancel Presnell

“THE STRUGGLE”

There is an inner battle that goes on in the lives of all people. For the Christian, the constant struggle is the knowledge to do right by God’s word, and the war within from our flesh against what is right. The carnal (fleshly) man has a conscience that reveals to him right and wrong. The war within the carnal man always leans towards doing what is wrong. Why? Carnality is in the driver’s seat!

Christians know to do right and yet continue to do wrong and that is the inner battle that is tearing them apart. Why is it a battle? There are two people at war within: First there is the old nature; This is who we were before Christ saved us. Secondly, there is the new man, the person we are in Christ after He saves us. Apostle Paul struggled with this very battle within. In my opinion, Paul was the greatest preacher outside of the Lord Jesus Christ. Given that Paul experienced this challenge, and it has been included in the canon of scripture, it is important for us to take this truth seriously and reflect upon its significance.

To properly understand this struggle that we have within, it is important to get the fundamentals of this truth settled down deep in our heart. Paul establishes that the Law of God is Spiritual. This means that it is right and Holy and from God above. The Law of God is what reveals our wrongs. Why do we struggle against doing what is right in God’s Law? Because our physical bodies and flesh is not spiritual. We are fallen creatures. We were conceived and born into sin and our nature is to sin. This will forever be our tendency in the flesh. The reason it is so important to get this truth down is for us to understand who we are apart from Christ. His Law is Spiritual, and we are carnal. This is the root of The Struggle within us all.

Romans 7:14— “¹⁴ For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.”