Devotional:What I Would Do:Romans 7:14-25

“For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing what I hate” (Rom. 7:15, NASB).

I was driving home from school in Louisville, Kentucky on my way home in Nashville, Tennessee. The trip would take about three hours. In my mind I knew that I should drive within the posted speed limit. There were many trucks on the road and because they travelled side by side sometimes, I had no choice but to drive within the speed limit.

One night I was in a hurry to get to Nashville. I had to go home, change clothes and report to work. I was making good time until I came upon two cars driving side by side. I was hoping that the car in the left lane would pass the one in the right lane but it did not. I drove up beside the car in the left lane. I could see that the driver was a police officer. I became frustrated as I waited for the officer to pass the other car or at least get back into the right lane so that I could pass. Eventually, the officer got back into the right lane. This would allow me to pass both cars without driving over the speed limit. I knew that this was what I wanted to do. It was what I knew that I should do. However, in my frustration I passed the car reaching speed above the speed limit.

After I had passed the two cars the police officer pulled me over. He sounded angry as he told me the reason that he was stopping me. He went back to his car to check my driver’s license. When the officer returned to the car he was still sounding angry. To my surprise the officer gave returned my license. He did not write a ticket for speeding. He simply told me to slow down and go home. I had not wanted to drive so fast above the speed limit, but my frustration got the best of me. I found myself speeding past the two cars.

I was reminded of this incident as I was reading this passage from Romans. Paul said that those who believe in Jesus know the law, but they do not always obey the law. Paul does not understand his actions. With his mind he wants to obey the law. The flesh, on the other hand causes him to disobey the law. There is a conflict between the two natures that live in him. The spirit man wants to obey, but the sin in him does not obey. Is there any solution for his dilemma? Paul asked, “Who will set me free from the body of this death” (v. 24). The answer is this. “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (v. 25)!

Prayer: Thank you Jesus for rescuing me from my sins. Amen.