How do you do the good that you want to do?

Romans 7:19 For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. If you remember, Paul said that the law was holy, righteous, and good, so when Paul referred to “the good” that he wanted, he had the fulfilling of the law in consideration. He wanted to do the law, but remember, what the law does? It aggravates sin (vs. 5), gives him knowledge of sin (vs. 7), and brings it to life in the flesh (vs. 5). Repeatedly trying to keep the law in the power of the flesh will ultimately result in your practicing law-breaking, the very evil you don’t want to do. Peter’s denial of Jesus illustrated what Paul taught here. John 13:37-38 “Peter said to Him,’“Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for You.’ Jesus answered, ‘Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly, I say to you, a rooster will not crow until you deny Me three times.’” Peter wanted to do good for Jesus, and he thought he could it. In the flesh, Peter tried to do the good he wanted to do, but instead did the very evil he didn’t want to do. This reminds us that if we want to do good, we should not attempt to “live for Jesus” in the power of our self-will. God’s way of glorifying Himself is to glorify His Son. That’s why He was sent. He is the way. His life is the truth. He is the only way God gets glory in our lives. If we want to practice righteousness and not practice evil, then we should give the Holy Spirit access to all that we are and surrender ourselves to be vessels of His love. That’s why we pray the live to love prayer. “Father, thank You for another day of life to know and love You and live to love with Jesus. Anoint and fill me with the power of the Holy Spirit, the presence and power of Christ, so that I can love and trust You and love everyone You put in my path today, for Your glory.” Living to love with Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit will enable you to do the good that you want to do. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com