August 25
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When we were controlled by our old nature, sinful desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires that produced a harvest of sinful deeds, resulting in death. -Romans 7:5(NLT)
LIVING BY LAW OR BY GRACE
A poem and essay by ILMA
Before you committed to Jesus, sin controlled you
As soon as you believed him, you were renewed
The old nature works within us and dominates
The law aroused evil desires that ruminates.
What the old nature does is keep us under the law
The born again person lives under God’s grace
The old nature condemns us when we rebel
The new person in Christ lives in his will and obeys.
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Have you noticed that the more rules you are given, the more the tendency to rebel and break these rules? I know that from experience because I lived a life full of rules when I was growing up. I couldn’t understand why there were so many of them and they never made sense to me. Laws are made so we can be protected but when we don’t have love when we execute these laws, we become legalistic and harsh. A lot of people forget that laws should protect and build us up, not put us down.
Paul explains to the Romans that if we are still controlled by our old nature, sinful desires control us and the law arouses these desires to make us sin.
PRAYER
Lord, let me live by your grace and not under the law.
REFLECTION
How has legalism affected your life?
For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s poem devotional or go to www.ilmaarts.com posts. To receive emails of my poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com