The War Within Us

The War Within Us

Romans 7: 14-28

We know that the law is spiritual; but I am nonspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 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. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing. 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. 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 I 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. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. Paul letter to the Romans Chapter 7:14-25

Personal Comment:

While reading this chapter I had one of those ah-ha moments. Last night I went to bed worried and I woke up worried. It seems to be the song of my life because my dance card is full of tribulation and no music is required to sing that Linda Rondstat song titled "Poor, poor, pitiful me."

For many years I've wondered what sort of sin and evil that Paul might have been writing about in these verses. After all I've always considered the Apostle Paul one of the most righteous men in the bible. So what was this thing that he was doing that he was not suppose to do? And that's when it hit me that Paul was struggling with earthly problems (we all have them) and fighting negative thoughts. More than likely Paul probably felt like a stalk of wheat that had been beaten just one too many times on the threshing floor.

Paul writes "I do not do the good things" (think positive thoughts) "I want to do, but I do the bad things (think negative thoughts) I do not want to do. So if I do things I do not want to do, then I am not the one doing them. It is sin living in me that does those things."

"So I have learned this rule: When I want to do good (think positive thoughts), evil (worldly problems) is there with me. In my mind, I am happy with God's law. But I see another law working in my body, which makes war against the law that my MIND accepts. That other law working in my body is the law of sin, and it makes me a prisoner. What a miserable man I am! Who will save me from this body that brings me death? I thank God for saving me through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Romans 7: v. 19-25)

Well, that's my ah-ha moment from one miserable woman who is STILL just trying to find a silver lining to kick start my day with good thoughts. Your prayers are always appreciated.

WORDS TO WARM my HEART

"We are no more responsible for the evil thoughts that pass through our minds than a scarecrow for the birds which fly over the seed plot he has to guard. The sole responsibility in each case is to prevent them from settling." - John Churton Collins

"Man's greatest danger is the combination of his increased control over the elements and his lack of control over himself." Albert Schweitzer

"For every one look within, take ten looks at Christ." Robert Murray M'Cheyne

"If you have the whine in you, kick it out ruthlessly." Oswald Chambers

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"I have reflected on my ways, and I turn my steps to your instruction." Psalm 119:59