13 Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Paul, an apostle of God, trained in the Law by one of the best teachers of his time, wrestled with controlling his flesh. Jesus Himself wrestled with it in the garden of Gethsemane. We should not be surprised when we find this difficult. How did these righteous men overcome their flesh?
Notice Paul's answer to the problem - "through Jesus Christ our Lord!" What does that even mean? He said something else about this: "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." How do we access that strength? How did Jesus access the strength He needed in the garden? That's right. Prayer.
Your assignment for today:
1. Share two passages on prayer. They can be examples of people praying or teachings about prayer.
2. Tell how these passages illustrate the important of prayer to self-control.
1 comment:
Simple but lovely, 1 Thessalonians 5:17 "pray without ceasing"
Also Colossians 4:2 "Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving."
certainly both to do something continuously and to devote yourself to something takes some self-control
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