Romans 7:21-25 - So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

In this passage from Romans 7, Paul powerfully describes the inner conflict between our sinful nature and desire to follow God's law. He acknowledges that even when we want to do what is right, sin still tempts us and leads us astray (v. 21). Though Paul delights in God's law in his inner self, the sin that dwells within causes an ongoing battle in his members (vv. 22-23). Recognizing his wretchedness, Paul cries out for deliverance from this 'body of death' and praises God that this deliverance comes through Jesus Christ (vv. 24-25). The key themes here are: 1. The struggle against sin. Even when we want to obey God, we still face temptation and often fall short. 2. Delighting in God's law. At our core, believers want to honor God and follow His ways. But sin wars against that desire. 3. Bondage to sin. When we try to battle sin in our own strength, we often end up defeated and feeling trapped in sin's grasp. 4. Deliverance through Christ. Though we are wretched sinners, Jesus sets us free from sin's control and gives us new life (see Romans 6). So this passage gives us an honest look at the Christian's conflict with sin, but also points us to the hope we have in Christ, who alone can rescue us from sin's grip.

Paul's raw honesty about his struggle with sin is so helpful for believers today. We all face that same battle - even the godliest Christian harbors sinful tendencies that war against their desire to honor God. I can certainly relate to wanting to do good but having my sinful nature sabotage those efforts. Temptation seems to be lurking around every corner! And no matter how hard I try in my own power, I fail over and over again to resist it. Just like Paul, I become acutely aware of my wretchedness in those moments. I beat myself up and wonder why I can't get victory over sin. It leaves me feeling trapped in sin's grasp, which is such a hopeless feeling. I suspect every believer has been there before - recognizing your helplessness against the sin that wages war inside. But praise God, the passage doesn't end on that hopeless note! Paul cries out gratefully that deliverance from this body of death comes through Jesus Christ our Lord. What glorious news! Even in the midst of our losing battle with sin, Jesus provides the way of escape. He alone can rescue us from the control of sin and give us new life in Him. Through Christ's power at work within us, we can have victory in our struggle against sin. So may this passage give us great hope today! Yes, sin still wars within us and causes us to stumble. But we have a Deliverer far greater than sin. We can look to Christ for the strength, wisdom and persevering grace needed to overcome. Let's fix our eyes on Jesus and walk in newness of life with Him each day!

Father God, we praise You for the gift of new life in Christ! Thank You that even when sin feels like it has the upper hand in our lives, You provide the way of escape through Jesus. Forgive us for the many times we have given in to temptation and grieved Your heart. Strengthen us by Your Spirit to stand firm when we face temptation. Help us walk in newness of life each day, leaving our old, sinful ways behind. We look to You alone as our Deliverer. Thank You for giving us freedom and victory through Christ our Lord. Amen.