Romans 7:15-19 says, “I don’t understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. But I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.” NLT
This passage sounds odd when I first read it. But when I ponder it for a moment, I realize how profound it is. I often catch myself doing what I don’t want to do, what I know in my inner being is sin, like telling a lie.
I want to be holy like God is holy, and I am in the sanctifying process where He is making me holy. But I’m not there yet. In fact, I don’t think any human will attain this holiness until we transition from earth to heaven and are made like Him.
Sometimes I want to eat healthily, but I put unhealthy things in my grocery cart, moving the temptation from the store shelf into my pantry where it can tempt me. This should be easily remedied, but I still do what I don’t want to do. (I’m not saying junk food is a sin!) I know me and I will eat the thing I don’t want to.
So it is with sinful temptation in my life, and maybe yours too. Something we are wrestling with begins to entice me to partake, I know it’s a sin, God has convicted me about it already. But I do it anyway. What can we do?
James has an answer in chapter one verses 14-15: “But each one is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desires. Then when desire conceives, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is full grown, it gives birth to death.” NLT
The answer is always Jesus, isn’t it? Keep your eyes fixed on Him and when tempted, turn away and run from it!