The law of my mind

Romans 7:23

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.

Every Christian knows the great conflict that takes place within us. There are two laws constantly at war with one another. The law of God is what has been placed in us innately by God, and then instilled into our hearts through the new birth. Everyone who is “born of the Spirit” has that law in them. But there is also the law of sin, that law that permeates our minds and hearts, and aggravates and agitates us on a daily basis. It is only agitating because it is against the law of our minds. Because of the new birth, the law of our mind is to serve Christ and love Him. It is to bring forth fruit unto holiness. This is the true desire of the mind of the Christian. But often, this may be enveloped and swallowed up by the law of sin that still is fighting for control of our bodies and our minds. It is a mean tyrant, seeking to dominate our being and enslave our minds. This is the other law in our members. And it seems too often to bring us into captivity to the law of sin. So what shall we do? What victory shall we have?

Paul, in this great treatise to the Romans, in the sixth chapter tells us to reckon ourselves indeed to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. And here, we find the verse following our passage, where Paul says, “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” And in 1 Corinthians 15:57, he says, “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” We have victory! With the mind we serve the law of God, he says at the end of this great passage in Romans 7. This is our desire! That we may serve the law of God. So do not be distracted by the flesh. It will serve the law of sin every time and without question. But if we yield our members to the law of God, the flesh is held at bay. It is a common thing for a Christian to be bewildered by a bad thought, or utterly blown off course because of a stray motive. But, my dear friend, this is to be expected! You still have in you the law of sin. Do not yield to it. To give it a second thought, and to dwell on it is to yield to it.

Therefore, if thoughts molest and the sinful nature shows up, do not be discouraged. Yield to Christ again! And trust in His help that we may have the strength to do the good that is not in us. Indeed, in our flesh dwells no good thing. To will is present, but how to do good we find not! Therefore, let us continue to yield to Him, reckoning ourselves to be dead to sin, but alive unto God through Christ. God knoweth! The Lord understands the battle! Was it not Christ Himself who said, “The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak”? If Christ Himself knew this struggle, then we can be sure He understands ours.

“Father, we thank you for the encouragement that comes from Scripture. There are many days that we fight the flesh all day from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same. But what a blessed thought it is that you understand. May we yield, with your help, and through your Spirit, to the law of our mind, that law of God which is within us. Cleanse our hearts and our minds this day for your glory. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.”