April 2
“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” —ROMANS 7:15
“For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.” —ROMANS 7:18
The problem of human-kind began in the Garden of Eden when God withdrew His Spirit from Adam and Eve, and the human race became separated from the life of God. It is the condition we are all born into, and consequently, while retaining the capacity for godliness, humankind has lost the capability for it. Our capacity for godliness is evidenced in our frustrations with evil in this world and our desire for good. Our lost capability is seen in our repeated failure to perform what we want to.
The apostle Paul talked honestly about this conflict in his letter to the Romans. He says that he doesn’t do what he wants to do, but does what he hates to do. He explains, “As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me” (Romans 7:17). He goes on to say, “So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being, I delight in God’s law; but see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members” (Romans 7:21-23).
Herein lies the problem: our capacity for goodness, which deep down we believe in and long to fulfill, is frustrated by our capability for goodness, which lets us down again and again. What I want and what I do are in conflict with each other. But it’s when our desire for goodness and capability for goodness are in conflict that we find the margin into which God will step. Paul writes, “For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:3-4).
It is the bankruptcy of our own hearts inherent in our sinful nature that creates our need for the life of Christ to operate as our source and strength. In Jesus Christ we have the means to do what we deeply want to do, but lack the empowerment to do so. The flesh will always fight against the Spirit, but in Christ there is freedom and victory over sin as He, alone, is capable.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, I am so much aware of my sinful nature and constant battle against the flesh. I ask that your Spirit fill me and strengthen me so that I may live a life that not only delights in your laws, but abides by them.
TO REFLECT UPON: Am I drawing on the power of Christ when tempted to do what I do not want to do?