Romans 7:15-25a (NRSV)
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Verse 15I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Verse 16Now if I do what I do not want, I agree that the law is good. Verse 17But in fact it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me. Verse 18For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. Verse 19For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. Verse 20Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me. Verse 21So I find it to be a law that when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand. Verse 22For I delight in the law of God in my inmost self, Verse 23but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind, making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Verse 24Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Verse 25Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I am a slave to the law of God, but with my flesh I am a slave to the law of sin.
Devotion
Paul’s brutal honesty affirms the struggle with sin is real, admitting the helplessness of relying on ourselves to do what is good. He confesses that he doesn’t understand why he does not do what he wants to do, but keeps doing what he hates. His confession resonates with all of us who feel that daily tug-of-war where good intentions clash with the pull of old habits and sin.
We all have baggage we carry—guilt over past mistakes, frustration with our weaknesses, or just the exhaustion of trying to be better on our own. Paul shows us it’s okay to admit the fight is real because we’re not meant to white-knuckle our way through it. Instead, we can entrust those burdens to the Lord who will rescue us from the vicious cycle. When we surrender, we stop pretending we can fix ourselves and let Jesus show us the way.
Prayer
Gracious Father, we give thanks for your Son, our Lord, who rescued us from sin and death. Grateful for the gift of grace through faith in Christ Jesus, we surrender our lives to you knowing that you love us deeply and will give us your peace. Amen.
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