Saturday in the Word | When Knowing Right Isn’t Enough

The Apostle Paul describes the struggle of knowing what is right and good yet finding himself doing what he does not want to do. He knows better.

Romans 7 raises the important question: Why is doing the right thing so much harder than knowing the right thing to do?

Paul struggled with this, too.

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.

Romans‬ ‭7‬:‭24‬-‭25‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.7.24-25.ESV

The good news isn’t that we finally become strong enough to conquer our struggles. The good news is that Jesus is our deliverer.

Romans 7 reminds us that Christianity isn’t about trying harder, but about recognizing our inability to save or sanctify ourselves as we learn to depend upon Christ.

I find humility in knowing that.

We can know Scripture. We may have good intentions. We could establish disciplines and make commitments. We might genuinely desire to please God. And yet, we will still stumble.

That doesn’t mean our desire to grow in holiness is meaningless. It means we need something and Someone greater than ourselves. Our willpower isn’t enough.

Romans 7 leaves us looking toward Romans 8, where Paul will proclaim that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Perhaps that’s the word some of us need this Saturday.

Friend, you don’t have to rescue yourself.

Jesus already did that.

Read: Romans 7

Reflect: Where am I relying on my own strength rather than the grace of Christ?

Pray: Lord Jesus, thank You that my hope is not found in my ability to get everything right. Teach me to depend upon You, especially in the places where I feel weakest. In Your Name I pray, Amen.