A Daily Devotional with Pastor Doug Crouse April 21, 2018 True North Scripture Reading – Romans 7:21 - 23 (NLT) "I have discovered this principle of life - that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God's law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me."

 In the above and surrounding verses in the book of Romans, the Apostle Paul describes the plight of every honest Christian. True that being born-again is a work of the Spirit that takes place in an instant, and we become His daughters and sons, because we are clothed with the righteousness of Jesus our Lord and Savior. However, the lifelong work of being formed and fashioned into the image of Jesus Christ will not be fully revealed until we see Christ.

Not at all to say that we are bound by sin. We are set free by the abiding presence, power and Person of the Holy Spirit, living within us. We are sane because of the mind of Christ that enables us to understand the things of the Spirit. We are those as Paul says above who love the Word of God and His commands with all of our hearts.

But as the Hymn writer penned these words: 'Prone to wander, Lord I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love, Here's my heart, O take and seal it, Seal it for thy Throne above'. That is our plight as we commit those sins both of commission and even omission in thought, word and deed - and in our deepest thoughts and motivations, truly unbeknown to us even in our holiest moments of devotion. 

Thank-God that when we at times are overwhelmed or tire with our own human nature, even at the best of times in comparison to His great glory that we can remember the, 'True North' of our experience of salvation in Christ Jesus our Lord. For when we repented and turned to Him by the Holy Spirit, indeed He adopted us as His very own daughters and sons with His everlasting love. And He will complete His great work in and through our lives to His eternal and everlasting glory. 

Prayer Father today I turn to You once again through Jesus my Lord and rejoice in the freedom that is mine. May my earthly life continue to be a reflection of the victory that belongs to me in Christ Jesus my Lord. I pray this for His greater glory and in His mighty Name. 

Memory Verse:  Psalm 47:1 NLT “Come everyone! Clap your hands! Shout to God with joyful praise!