T H E O P H I L U S

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!

Romans 7:21-25

There are times that we are waged against the battle of sin. These battles often begin inside of our very heart and inmost being. Do I give in or do I not? We can blame the devil of temptations in these times and matters, but there are times we give him way too much credit and power. Rather, it is a matter of where we have found our most trust, thanksgiving, delight and confidence.

Paul says in Romans 7:22 that there is a wage between our delight in God’s law, and the law of our minds. It is true that there are times that we have to use common sense and logic to make good choices, but sometimes those good choices can be made with worldly influence – for self preservation. God’s law goes against the normalities of what we consider logic. To forgive a murderer, a thief, or an adulterer who has committed sin against you may be considered illogical to the standards of the world. We would be told instead to seek justice, vengeance, and to pay back to them spitefully what they deserve. But God’s law tells us to love our neighbor. To forgive them, and to love them wholeheartedly as if they were your own kin. Sin tells us the lie that by worldly logic, we should seek to please and preserve ourselves. The cover-up is that it pains others, it destroys us as humanity, and dismantles us spiritually.

Today, hold closely and dearly to God’s law with your utmost love for Him. It begins with choosing to love God over ourselves. We must choose to reject the laws of self-preservation that merely seek the benefit of one’s own comfort, and instead hold closely to God’s law that has us lean on him. This choice means that we fully and completely trust in the deliverance through Jesus Christ for our lives; that in our obedience God is able to provide the justice that is needed, the satisfaction that is desired, and a joy that is eternal, not temporary.