I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. (NLT)

Paul leads the way when it comes to talking about his issues – he talks about the “thorn” in his flesh (2 Cor. 12:7); he calls himself the worst of all sinners (1 Tim. 1:15). He certainly isn’t a leader that hides his junk! In today’s passage, Paul seems to speak to something in us, something that keeps us from doing what we know we should be doing.

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Paul points to a singular truth from two different angles in this passage. First, he says, when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. He highlights that even if we were the “best” person, we are still a fallen people and will never be able to achieve glory. And second, the “power” he talks about is that sinful nature in us, the desire to do what is wrong. Both of these point to one thing: an overwhelming need for a Savior!

So, what do we do with this? It’s easy to get an image in your mind of a evil spirit that hints at you and makes you do what isn’t good. But if you go back over the last couple verses, there is one word that pops out…l. Maybe our sinful nature just doesn’t look like we think it will. Maybe it’s not a little gremlin that makes us steal, lie, or worse. Perhaps it manifests in our anxieties, in that thing in which we don’t believe God can move, or that habit you won’t let go of.

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So, what do we do? If this is something that is so ingrained in mankind, as Paul suggests, how do we step forward? A good starting place is to find a definition of faith. The Greek work for faith is pistis, which holds the idea of leaning your full weight on something. Faith is much more than a head knowledge. Where are you not leaning your full weight on Christ? In what thing do you say, I don’t think you’re strong enough to support this, God? This is not an easy thing to root out, but in this struggle, we can be like the contrarian and say to Christ, “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24, ESV).

Father, we confess that we don’t put our full weight on you. We have things we hold onto, trying to limp along in that old sinful nature. God, even with that, you unconditionally love us! Help us to dig out those things in our life we just don’t want to let go of. Help us see the areas we need to hold onto you and let you fully pick us up and faithful carry us! Amen.

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