For Thursday, March 12, 2026:
Romans 7:21 NLT, Paul speaking: “I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong.”
Paul is living in a world filled with sin, and as much as he tries to honor God by doing right, frustrations of this life find him slipping back into his old behavior. Remember, when he first set out, Paul was armed with a letter from the Temple leaders authorizing him to stop these radical new Christians, to return them to Jerusalem in chains! The risen Jesus stopped him on the road to Damascus, striking him blind and helpless, saying, “Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?” This was enough to make Paul do a 180, to realize that Jesus was indeed the heaven-sent Son of God. Paul became a Jesus advocate. He was brought into the city and his sight restored by a believer. Paul was immediately baptized and became an instant evangelist! (By the way, “Saul” was his Hebrew name, like King Saul. “Palus” was his Greek name, which we translate into English as “Paul.”)
God
gave mankind the power to think and reason. If we were forced to
follow Jesus, our loyalty would mean nothing. Therefore, God lets us
choose, wants us to choose Him! We’re taken off track by Satan and
his demons shouting, “Pick me! Pick me!” At first, sin seems to
be fun and exciting, but it never works out in the long run. God’s
desire is for everyone to repent and return — repent of our sins
and return to the roster of believers. When this life ends, we want
to find ourselves on God’s short list, unwavering in our commitment
to the Father and his Son.
The longer we’re Christians,
the easier it will become to stay on the high road. God wants us to
succeed!
Pastor Norton Lawellin
Jesus In the City Fellowship
The Father’s House
Truth and Freedom Church
