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By Birth, By Choice, By Practice

O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. --Romans 7:24-25

As much as we hate to admit it, we are sinners by birth. The Bible is clear: "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me" (Psalm 51:5).

We are also sinners by choice. There comes a time -- actually it happens several times a day -- when we deliberately choose to tell a lie, to steal, to covet, to gossip, to rage. Or we deliberately choose to not be kind, to not serve, or to not help. Sins of commission, sins of omission -- we choose both.

We are also sinners by practice. The more we do it, the easier it is to practice lust, greed, hate, lying, stealing, pride, jealousy, anger, or whatever it may be. These things beset all of us. And the more we yield to the pressure, the more easily we will yield next time.

So we join with Paul: "What wretched man I am! Who will rescue me?" And then with the apostle we thank God for sending His Son, our Savior and Deliverer!

From Billy Graham's HOPE for Each Day; Morning & Evening Devotions