Daily Devo

Listen to today’s devo!

Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. (Rom. 7:20)

Expanded Passage: Romans 7:20

“You must sign the guestbook!” We were about to depart from a delightful Friday morning visit when our host put the record-keeping book before us. It was filled with names—guests she had entertained over the years, recipients of her gifts of hospitality. “Thanks for the visit. I’ve actually been here since Tuesday,” I wrote. While I knew my claim to being a hidden housemate for four days would make my host laugh, I didn’t realize this was an actual phenomenon. Have you heard of it? When a person lives in another’s home without their knowledge, it’s called “phrogging.”

Can you imagine discovering someone secretly living in your home? While at first this would be a terrible shock, it might actually explain some things. A dish or two left out, your favorite mug on a different shelf, the thermostat adjusted—while you might normally overlook such trivialities, they might begin to cause suspicion. Discovering you have a hidden housemate would certainly answer a lot of questions!

That sin lives within is no secret to Paul, but it is only made known by God’s convicting and sanctifying grace. Without God’s grace, we wouldn’t even know about this controlling, hidden housemate! Yet now that we do, what will we do? Will we make sin comfortable, or will we invite in the One who can evict sin from the home that is our heart?

Welcome in Christ to evict sin from your heart!

Aaron Perry serves as director of Wesleyan academic initiatives for Education and Clergy Development of The Wesleyan Church.

© 2024 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

Listen to today’s devo!

For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. (Rom. 7:18)

Expanded Passage: Romans 7:16-19

Good intentions are good, but they are not sufficient. Intending to take a friend to dinner or to choose a birthday gift for a parent starts with a worthwhile goal, but without execution, intentions fizzle into incomplete actions. What else is needed? Strength.

I recently suffered a pinched nerve. The burning, aching, stinging pain radiated from my upper back down my arm, sapping all strength in my arm and chest. Basic movements became impossible. Just a few days earlier, my good intentions could have been acted upon with ease, but now I was powerless to do the good I wanted to do.

The pinched nerve experience tells only part of Paul’s story. In addition to the weakness to do good, Paul says there is strength to do wrong; a strength that activates what Paul calls the sinful nature. With my pinched nerve, I needed to find a new way to do things. Specifically, I was forced to ask for help. According to Paul, the situation of having a sinful nature is even more dire. We don’t just need help; we need rescue. While spiritual weakness is not to be the normal Christian life, these times might be used by God to remind us not only of the help we’ve received, but of the rescue Christ has provided.

When you feel weak, testify to Christ’s strength!

Aaron Perry serves as director of Wesleyan academic initiatives for Education and Clergy Development of The Wesleyan Church.

© 2024 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

Listen to today’s devo!

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. (Rom. 7:15)

Expanded Passage: Romans 7:14-15

I think Paul inspired Dr. Seuss. Whether speaking of foxes in boxes, trains with planes, blocks on clocks, or just what Mr. Moo can do, the twentieth-century author and cartoonist twists my tongue in a way that reminds me of Paul, the first-century missionary. While I know all the words that Seuss so sleekly strings together, I don’t always say them right. I do not speak what it is I read, and what I read is not what I speak. Paul captures our spiritual conundrum with just as much style. Paul’s tongue-twisting words only reinforce that our souls are twisted too. Far more serious than the tongue not articulating what the eyes are reading is the will not aligning with one’s actual actions.

In the midst of an in-depth discussion of three different laws—the Old Testament law, the law of sin, and the law of the Spirit—Paul drops this description of our spiritual state before God’s rescue and empowering. It is tempting to skip the tongue-twisting words for some happier teaching, but sit in Paul’s phrase for a moment. While Dr. Seuss doesn’t often describe reality with his rambling rhymes, Paul certainly does with this snippet from Romans. Since Paul so clearly knows our spiritual state, let his true-to-life description strengthen your trust in Scripture.

Pause and appreciate Scripture’s keen insight into human experience.

Aaron Perry serves as director of Wesleyan academic initiatives for Education and Clergy Development of The Wesleyan Church.

© 2024 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

Listen to today’s devo!

But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. (Ps. 73:2)

Expanded Passage: Psalm 73:1-17

Ice on asphalt is hard. Years ago, while going out of the apartment where we lived, I slipped. Though I knew a storm had left a coating of ice, if I was careful, I would not fall, right? I slipped and fell on my left shoulder. The pain was almost overwhelming, and I still have issues with that shoulder.

Asaph, who wrote Psalm 73, was a Levite appointed by David to lead worship. He led the dedication of Solomon’s temple and was all in when it came to serving and trusting God. But as he saw the wicked prosper, he allowed bitterness to blind him to the clear blessings of God’s people. He nearly lost his spiritual footing. After a pity party, he went to the sanctuary and came to his senses in verse 17. He remembered that serving God has temporal benefits and eternal ones as well. It is about perspective.

When things do not go our way, sometimes we blame God. In our resentment, we accuse him of turning a blind eye to the wicked and the cold shoulder to us. We lose our perspective. That is when we need to find our place of sanctuary. It is only by shutting out those things that are causing us to slip that we regain our traction. Allowing God to adjust our perspective gives us a solid footing again.

Find a place of sanctuary and thank God for his blessings.

Roland E. Cavanaugh is a Wesleyan pastor serving in North Carolina and administrator of an assistant living facility. He and his wife have ministered for thirty-five years.

© 2024 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

Listen to today’s devo!

You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. (Rom. 6:18)

Expanded Passage: Romans 6:1-14, 18-23

When I got married, I promised to love, cherish, provide for, and protect my wife. I gave up singleness and dedicated my life to her. And though jokes are made about the “yoke” of marriage, there is an element of truth to it. I promised to forsake all others and cling only to her and she did the same. I surrendered to her, and we pledged to serve one another—as it should be.

In Romans 6, Paul stated that believers serve one of two masters: the old self, or Christ. The old self does not seek the things of God; it is selfish. The result of living that way is ultimately death. When we serve Christ—and put to death the old self—the result is eternal life. Eternal life is a quantity of years after our physical life ends, but it is also a quality of life we live now. Romans 6 reminds us that God can put to death the old self so that we can sincerely adopt the new life found only in him.

Life is full of choices. None is more important than the choice to surrender to Christ. That surrender results in both freedom and enslavement: freedom from the stranglehold of sin, and enslavement to righteousness found only in him. But like marriage, it is a sweet surrender that comes with many benefits.

Ask God to help you surrender everything to him.

Roland E. Cavanaugh is a Wesleyan pastor serving in North Carolina and administrator of an assistant living facility. He and his wife have ministered for thirty-five years.

© 2024 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

Listen to today’s devo!

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom. 6:23)

Expanded Passage: Romans 6:18-23

Our tabby cat, “TT,” had roamed the neighborhood for three and a half years before she stayed to live with us. Her home was up the street, but she spent time on our porch most days. When my wife texted me a photograph several months ago, it was clear that TT was now our inside cat. Our busy neighbors were gracious when we asked if we could adopt her. The confines of our house have replaced the freedom of the outdoors, but she seems to appreciate a life of regular food, a warm bed, and lots of love. The freedom of sleeping under bushes, catching her own dinner, and fighting with the other cats in the neighborhood—which we have witnessed—is evidently not as desirable.

Paul highlighted the principle that everyone is a slave to someone or something, along with the expected consequences. He said to be a slave to sin results in death. Supposed freedom is not freedom at all. But to be a slave to God results in holiness, life, and other blessings. Freedom to live, or freedom to die. We must choose.

If we allow sin to dominate our life, the result will not be good. In contrast, God rewards us when we submit to him by granting life and other benefits as well. When he is our master, the outcome will be wonderful. Accepting the lordship of Christ is always the best choice.

Reaffirm your commitment to serve Christ alone.

Roland E. Cavanaugh is a Wesleyan pastor serving in North Carolina and administrator of an assistant living facility. He and his wife have ministered for thirty-five years.

© 2024 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

Listen to today’s devo!

For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace. (Rom. 6:14)

Expanded Passage: Romans 6:11-14

Leading up to the American Civil War, 3.5 million African Americans were held as slaves in the Confederate states. The Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Lincoln went into effect January 1, 1863. It declared that slaves were free, and that the government would use all powers necessary to ensure that their freedom became a reality. In April of 1865, that promise was fulfilled. The law that permitted slavery was forever abolished.

Paul gave the Roman believers a list of admonitions, all based on the new life of freedom they had in Christ. They were not to let sin rule them inwardly nor manifest itself outwardly. They were to dedicate themselves to God and the new life they had found. It all came with a promise: sin would no longer be their master. This was not a command, but a guarantee.

We live in the age of spiritual freedom. God’s grace promises that we are unfettered from the power of sin. The old rules do not apply. Giving in to the lure of temptation is not necessary and should not be a part of the Christian’s life. All God requires is that we accept his unmerited favor and live in it. The joy of freedom has replaced the misery of bondage. When we allow his grace to rule our lives, the constraints of sin will fall away.

Make the effort to live in God’s freedom today.

Roland E. Cavanaugh is a Wesleyan pastor serving in North Carolina and administrator of an assistant living facility. He and his wife have ministered for thirty-five years.

© 2024 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

Listen to today’s devo!

The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. (Rom. 6:10)

Expanded Passage: Romans 6:8-10

Once started, a perpetual motion machine continues in motion without external energy being applied or used. But this type of machine is impossible because it violates a principle of thermodynamics that says all movement requires an energy source. Theoretically, energy is not unlimited. For example, the ocean currents use the sun’s energy—which will eventually burn out. Infinite motion cannot continue with a finite energy source.

The sacrificial system of the Old Testament could not eradicate the problem of sin. Permanent forgiveness with God was an illusion and an impossibility during that time. The only hope for forgiveness that would never end had to come from a perfect sacrifice. The second person of the Trinity was that sacrifice. But while Christ’s death happened once—to never be repeated—the availability of forgiveness he brought continues forever with no possibility of ceasing.

We sometimes struggle in obeying God to the point that we may feel like we have exhausted his forgiveness. Surely his favor will eventually come to an end; his patience will be depleted. But that is not the case. Whereas everything around us is moving toward decay, his love will never go away. In our struggle, we can turn to him as often as needed. And though Christ’s sacrifice for our sin was only required once, the life we share with him will continue for eternity, unabated.

Thank God for his forgiveness that never ends.

Roland E. Cavanaugh is a Wesleyan pastor serving in North Carolina and administrator of an assistant living facility. He and his wife have ministered for thirty-five years.

© 2024 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

Listen to today’s devo!

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. (Rom. 6:5)

Expanded Passage: Romans 6:5-7

Fire can be beneficial to a forest. After the blaze, more sunlight, nutrients, and water are available. An additional benefit of fire can be found in the lodgepole pine forests of the Rocky Mountains. Lodgepole cones are covered with resin and only release their seeds after fire burns away that outer barrier. In a season with no fire, very few seeds are released to germinate. While the flames seem to bring death, they are necessary for new trees to be produced and life to continue.

Paul wrote about death; he also wrote about life. But for Paul, life comes after death, not the other way around. Sharing in Christ’s death creates a new person now. Before this death, we are slaves to sin. After this death, we are set free from it. Sharing in the death of Christ is required to bring about this freedom and new life in the present. It will also bring about our resurrection after life here is completed.

Crucifixion is not an easy choice. We want to hold on to the life we know. But Christ calls us to share in his suffering and his death. Only by choosing to die with him can we live a life free from sin’s bondage now. And it is only as we die with him now that we will share in the resurrection to come.

Pray for strength to embrace the suffering that dying with Christ brings.

Roland E. Cavanaugh is a Wesleyan pastor serving in North Carolina and administrator of an assistant living facility. He and his wife have ministered for thirty-five years.

© 2024 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

Listen to today’s devo!

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that . . . we too may live a new life. (Rom. 6:4)

Expanded Passage: Romans 6:1-4

Some ancient Egyptian tombs contain honey. Though buried at the death of a king, when lifted from the tomb, it is found to be unspoiled and can be eaten as if it were one day old. Everything around it shows signs of decay; the honey does not. It is just as delicious as it ever was. A symbol of hope in the darkness.

In Paul’s time, Jewish baptism was viewed as washing away the impurities of the former Gentile life. Christian baptism was seen as something similar in that it symbolized leaving the old life behind and embracing the new life that Christ gives. Christian baptism—the act of immersion—was a picture of a person’s death and burial with Christ. For the first Christians, emerging from the water symbolized being raised to life with him. Out of his death, new life for believers was produced.

The life we have in Christ is a new life we live now. Amid struggles, we can continue because of our faith in—and our connection to—his death and resurrection. Christ died; Christ was raised. Through faith in him, we too are raised from death to life. And even while surrounded by the physical decay of a dying world, we must make sure that this new life in Christ continues to thrive in us, producing hope in others. Like honey from a tomb.

Live your life so that it is a source of hope for others.

Roland E. Cavanaugh is a Wesleyan pastor serving in North Carolina and administrator of an assistant living facility. He and his wife have ministered for thirty-five years.

© 2024 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.