Romans 7:15

"For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not;but what I hate, that do I."

What on earth is Paul saying here? Is it a riddle with some cryptic message awaiting the diligent student to find? Maybe Paul is having a moment where he is losing his mind? It seems very hard to read and understand until you break it down, or quite possibly read another translation. The new American standard has it this way: " For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate." That seems a bit more understandable. What is Paul getting at? Basically he is dealing with what most of us deal with on a daily basis. If you don't, then disregard this message and go have a sandwich or something. Paul is saying that the things he does or is doing, he hates. He also is saying he wants to do something else but isn't. What a dilemma! Man I feel for ya Paul. In the context of a Christians life, this really hits home for some, definitely me. We desire to walk with Christ, draw closer to Christ, become more like Christ. Instead what do I, you do? We act like complete imbeciles at times. When the world looks on at us and sees us, they say " That's a Christian?" Man that one hurts. Now here is Paul, the one who wrote a lot of the new testament, saying the same thing. Why did I do that? Why do I act like this? Man I am so stupid. O.K. Maybe I'm the only one that says that. When we gave our lives to Christ, we are to reckon, as Paul says in Romans 6:11, ourselves dead. I've heard it said that we are to reckon the old man/woman dead. We are alive to Christ now. Somehow though, the old man has a tendency to resurrect at the worst times. Paul also said in 1 Corinthians 15:31 that he dies daily. Dies daily? To himself. So if Paul who was an amazing witness for Christ dealt with this, how on earth can we? I mean, he had the whole teaching of the law and the prophets under some of the best in all Israel. Then he had a personal intervention with Christ on the road to Damascus. One would think he could make it through this no problem. He was just a man like you and me. He had the same temptations and struggles just like you and me. He had the same Holy Spirit just like you and me have to help us. That is His job. In Greek the word for Holy spirit is parakletos on some usages. In John's gospel you will find this usage of it. It means comforter or helper. Through the power of the Holy spirit, we can overcome these obstacles in our walk with the Lord. Easy right? Well when we submit our selfish will to Christ and ask for help then yes it is. It's when we fight it that we have the problems. I know I for one feel as though I let the Lord down daily, but He is right there to pick me back up, dust me off and encourage me to keep going. Keep running the race. The prize is in sight and it's only a little while longer. The God I serve loves me. He loves who I am and the journey I am on. He understands the mistakes I am going to make because He saw them before the foundation of the world. Does that mean I can live like h@#$% and just keep saying sorry? Well, if I want to go nowhere fast sure. If I want to really experience the power of the Holy spirit and Christ's goodness in my life, then I have to get my priorities straight. I need to have the right heart attitude. God knows the heart and that should be enough for me to say, ok what needs to change here Lord. This week, don't beat yourself up if you fail to be a good witness. The enemy will do that for you. Just get alone with the one who loves you and died for you and tell Him this simple prayer. Help. I have done it many times and He has not let me down yet. Nor will He ever. Have a blessed week and walk with Him. The time is short.

Bob.