Sample of Daily Encounter by Dick Innes

“It seems to be a fact 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 law at work within me that is at war with my mind. This law wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin? (Romans 7:21-24, NLT).

“Robert Louis Stevenson once wrote an unforgettable story about a Dr. Jekyll and a Mr. Hyde. Most of you know the story well. Dr. Henry Jekyll was respected in his community–a gentleman in every respect. But he had some secret vices which he kept carefully hidden from public view. Desiring to practice these vices unrestrained without endangering his standing in the community, he concocted a strange potion that would allow him to transform his physical features at will. Thus he would be free to move about town and practice his vices without damaging his reputation.

“Unfortunately, this physical manifestation of the evil monster that he kept carefully hidden within his breast began dominating his life and wreaking havoc in the community. Such unrestrained evil could not be kept in check for long, and the consequences of the battle within Dr. Jekyll ended in great tragedy.

“Stevenson’s point was that there is a battle going on within each of us. We each carry around within us a little of Mr. Hyde.”

The Bible calls our “Mr. Hyde” our sin nature, with which we were born and will have and struggle as long as we are in this world. But there is a way to win in this battle of our two natures. The Apostle Paul asked and then answered his own question: “Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 7:24-25, NLT).

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, I acknowledge the fact that I struggle with my sin nature and often fail. Please fill me with your Holy Spirit and help me to grow up into the fullness of my salvation so I will be able to take full advantage of the resources I have in Christ Jesus to overcome the battle against sin in my life. Gratefully in Jesus’ name. Amen.”