The Struggle
Opening Prayer
Start with this prayer: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts” (Psa. 139:23).
Read Romans 7:7-25
[7] What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” [8] But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead. [9] Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. [10] I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. [11] For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death. [12] So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good. [13] Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! Nevertheless, in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it used what is good to bring about my death, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful. [14] We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. [15] I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. [16] And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. [17] As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. [18] For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. [19] For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do-this I keep on doing. [20] 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. [21] So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. [22] For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; [23] but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. [24] What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? [25] Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What two kinds of "Law" are discussed by Paul?Is Paul describing his pre-Christian experience, those turbulent days spent persecuting the church before he met Jesus on the Damascus road (Acts 8:3; Acts 9)? Some speculate that Paul’s language shares his present life and struggles, as he frequently did (cf. 1 Cor. 2:1-3; 4:10-13). Even so, is Paul still a prisoner to sin (23)? Where does this fit with glorious salvation? Scripture tells us we have been saved, but also states that we are a work in process, renewed daily as we journey with God (2 Cor. 4:16). In the meantime, we are all too familiar with the “conflicted self” that Paul articulates in verse 25, where we both delight in God and resist him. Paul faces the truth we often hide, even from ourselves. We are saved, but still struggle with temptation and sin. We want to stop gossiping and lying, but we continue. We want to forgive, but we can’t let go. We don’t want to lust after people, but we’re gripped. Where do you still struggle with sin? Noble intentions only go so far. Reach out to Jesus, because our Savior understands and will lead us through our many struggles into his freedom.
Apply
Spend time in prayer today about your own personal struggle with sin, asking Jesus to rescue you by his power.
Closing prayer
Thank You, most merciful Lord, for Your grace and power that can help me face and overcome my sin.
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