the unending wrestling match

Romans 7:14-8:2

14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. 15 I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 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. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 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.
Life in the Spirit
8 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 . Standard Bible Society: Wheaton



I had a conversation with a friend yesterday over lunch. I am not sure of his thoughts on God. He is old high school friend and I have just recently began to reconnect with him. He is open to discussion about lots of topics so I asked him about his thoughts on religion and Jesus. He said that he wants to do what is right, but sometimes he fails. That got me to thinking about the scripture that is above.

In recent days I had been thinking about this passage, because of personal reasons. I am struggling with surrednering my selfishness and being consumed with God. But I fail and snap back into pleasing myself. I have been given courage by this hero Paul and his continual struggle with the enemy that is within him called the flesh.

There is not a solution that I have come up with for this deal, no neat ending for me to post here on this blog. There is only courage to be taken that all wrestle with the war of the flesh and the spirit. Paul, me, my friend from high school and you. No matter where you are in your relationship with God, you will fight this fight.

Whatever!