Romans 7

I need to stop doing these so late! Lol

Romans 7:21-25

"21 So I find this law at work: When 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 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. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 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."

Here Paul addresses a big issue.  If I am free from sin, and I now have the ability to live for God, how come I still sin?

That's a pretty tough question.  Paul goes as far as to call himself a "wretched man" because he still struggles with sin.  I know that I constantly have to battle my sinful nature.  Like Paul, in my mind I want to do good but my flesh constantly wants to do evil.

There are two things I like to think about when it comes to this issue.

First, God offers second (and third, and fourth, etc) chances.  I know that since I have been saved I can genuinely ask for forgiveness and 'He is faithful and just to forgive'.  I have to remember that it's a constant fight until the end.

Second, I have to realize the importance of inward sin.  I think as humans we tend to focus more on outward sin than we do on inward sin.  People don't want to steal, but they are ok with coveting.  People don't want to murder, but they are fine with harboring hatred in their hearts.  I am included in this generalization.  A lot of times I focus more on outward sin because that's what other people see.  In reality, changing my heart to be more like Christ will change my actions to be more like Christ.

Well I guess that's it tonight, thanks for reading!

-JD-Wayt.