OceanSide church of Christ

Read devotionals for May 2026

June 1, 2026

Romans 7:22, 23 – For I delight in the law of God after the inward man; 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.

Thought: Paul continues to describe the spiritual battle that rages within each human being. It is a battle between God’s law and the law of sin, a battle between knowledge and desire, and between obedience and disobedience. The law that wars against the law of God seeks to bring individuals into captivity to sin. This can happen to all human beings, even those who “delight in the law of God after the inward man.” This sinful state is not a happy one.

Genesis 3:1-3

June 2, 2026

Romans 7:24 – O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

Thought: How does man overcome his “sin problem”? There is that constant struggle between doing what the Lord commands and fulfilling the desires of the flesh. Sadly, we often yield. If we understand the evil of sin, the fruit of sin, and the consequences of sin, we will feel as Paul did: “O wretched man that I am!” Is there a way for us to be delivered from the body of this death? If there isn’t a positive answer, then man dies in his wretchedness.

Romans 3:10-12

June 3, 2026

Romans 7:25 – I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

Thought: Paul was deeply concerned about how he could be delivered from “the body of this death” in the previous verse. In this verse, he provides the answer. “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Jesus came to be the final sacrifice for sin. His perfect life and His divine nature and His precious blood enable all to conquer sin. He ends this chapter with a restatement of the battle. The mind serves the law of God. The flesh serves the law of sin.

Matthew 1:21

June 4, 2026

Romans 8:1 – There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Thought: Paul notes where salvation is found in this verse. It is found “in Christ.” If a person is in Christ, there is no condemnation. The reason there is no condemnation is because one has been cleansed from his sin by the precious blood of Christ. When he is cleansed, he is added by the Lord to the church, the home of the saved. Note that this freedom is not unconditional. He must continue to walk after the Spirit and not the flesh.

Titus 2:11-14

June 5, 2026

Romans 8:2 – For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Thought: There are many points found in this verse. First, we are under law today. The law is called “the law of the Spirit of life” in this text. Second, this law brings life not death. It is not a law like the Law of Moses which only brought condemnation once it was violated. Third, Paul tells us that this law made him free from the law of sin and death. Under the law of the Spirit of life, there was real forgiveness. Sins were not simply rolled forward.

James 1:25

June 6, 2026

Romans 8:3 – For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.

Thought: The law was good, but man’s flesh was weak and disobeyed the law. And, once the Law of Moses was violated, there was nothing the law could do to save man. God changed that by “sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh…condemned sin in the flesh.” Jesus showed us how man was supposed to live under the law. His life condemned sin in the flesh. Notice, too, the words, “and for sin.” Jesus was sent for sin, that is, to forgive sin.

Acts 13:39

June 7, 2026

Romans 8:4 – That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Thought: To which law is Paul referring when he speaks of “the righteousness of the law”? the Law of Moses? Or, the law of the Spirit of life? The law of Moses pointed to the coming Christ, the new covenant, and the redemption to be found in Jesus. Those who adhered to the gospel, therefore, were fulfilling the righteousness of the law. Now, those who fulfilled the righteousness of the law were to walk after the Spirit and not after the flesh.

Isaiah 53:10-11

June 8, 2026

Romans 8:5, 6 – For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Thought: There are two mindsets found in the world. One rejects God and His teachings. These individuals live by fulfilling the desires of the flesh. The other accepts God and His teachings. These individuals obey the will of God found in the law of the Spirit. Those who are carnally minded are spiritually dead now and will face the second death in the hereafter. Those who are spiritually minded have life now and eternal life in the world to come.

Romans 6:23

June 9, 2026

Romans 8:7 – Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

Thought: There is a war that is constantly being fought on the earth. It involves every human being that exists. It is between the flesh and the spirit. It is the war between God and Satan. It is the war between good and evil. Those who embrace the carnal mind stand is opposition to God. These individuals refuse to be subject to the law of God. This mindset will never be subject to God’s law. It has to be put to death. That requires repentance.

James 4:4

June 10, 2026

Romans 8:8, 9 – So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Thought: Individuals who continue to please the desires of the flesh cannot please God. However, it is possible for a person to be in the Spirit instead of in the flesh. This happens when a person is converted. The old man of sin is put to death. The convert arises from the waters of baptism as a new creature. He replaces the flesh with the Spirit of God. How does this Spirit reside in the new Christian? He resides through the law of the Spirit of life.

Colossians 1:10

June 11, 2026

Romans 8:10 – And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

Thought: In the previous two verses, Paul wrote about the Spirit dwelling in the Christian. In this verse, he opens with the words: “And if Christ be in you.” When Paul opened this chapter he noted that the Romans were to walk in harmony with the law of the Spirit of life. The words revealed by the Holy Spirit enter the heart of the Christian. Those who live by them have the presence of deity within them. Life is a key component of this indwelling.

Colossians 3:16

June 12, 2026

Romans 8:11 – But if the Spirit of him that raise up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Thought: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have been involved in numerous activities since the Creation of the world. Each of them was working to bring the world into existence. Each one of them was involved in the redemption of fallen man. And, each of them are involved in the end time events. Here, we learn that the Spirit will be involved in giving life to our mortal bodies. All will be raised (John 5:28-29). However, only Christians will be raised to life.

John 6:40

June 13, 2026

Romans 8:12 – Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

Thought: A debtor is someone who owes another. Paul told the Romans, “we are debtors, not to the flesh.” He then explains how one pays such a debt, that is, “to live after the flesh.” The flesh has never done anything positive for man. The flesh has never blessed man. The flesh has never redeemed man. The flesh promises positive things, but only brings destruction, misery, and death. Why, therefore, do we live like we owe the flesh our all?

1 Peter 4:1-2