June 12, 2026
Friday, June 12
Perhaps it’s hard for you to believe that an apostle of Jesus could be stuck in sin like the rest of us. But there it is in Romans 7:14-25. Paul’s deliverance began with him taking full responsibility. No excuses. No rationalizations or minimizing.
But he then says, “Who will deliver me from this body of death?” The second step to getting unstuck is to call on God for help. If you are saved, it’s because at some point, you did exactly that. You cried out to Jesus, “O wretched person I am, please save me!” But you’ll need to pray a prayer like that many times in your life. You need the Gospel just as much after you’re saved as you did before.
Paul’s next words are so beautiful: Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Recall that on Tuesday, we saw Moses encouraging the Israelites with the promise that God would go with them. That meant the same power that had wiped out Egypt’s army would be lead them against the pagans in the Promised Land. It meant, “Stick with me, and you can’t lose.” But they still had to fight the battles. They had to face the walled city of Jericho. On another occasion, they had to fight against several armies at the same time. They had to go up into the hill country, where there were rumored to be giants. And they had to do things God’s way; if they took loot for themselves, God wouldn’t fight for them anymore.
I met a man once who claimed that he had been an alcoholic, but the day he met Jesus, he completely lost his taste for alcohol. That’s wonderful, but every other Christian I have met who has struggled with alcoholism or some other addiction has a different story. It’s a daily battle for them. Some have experienced relapses, but God stuck with them. Others say that the longer they fight, the easier it gets. Here’s what I know: Some of the best Christians I know are addicts. Their daily need to depend on God keeps them humble and gracious. I also know each one of them will conquer their addictions in the end. The same will happen in your battle with sin, if you choose to call on Him daily. Stick with Him, and you can’t lose.
“Lord, keep me humble and repentant before you, so that I can join Paul in saying, ‘Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ my Lord!’ In that name I pray, amen.”
Senior Pastor
First Baptist Conroe
More from Pastor Jeff at his website: jeffbergerwriting.com
