I Do Not Do What I Want

This meditation is based on a passage for April 5, 2011 in the Daily Lectionary Year 1 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993).

Text: Romans 7:13-25

Reflection and Question: As I see it, Paul, here, seems to get a bit tangled up in his distinctions. He is dictating to a scribe so, unlike us today, he cannot simply press delete to start again. Instead, he must keep going, making this passage murkier than I imagine he intended. In the midst of law and sin, flesh and mind, life and death, good and evil, I recognize in myself what Paul is confessing: That which I would do, I do not, and that which I would not do, I do. Thus, I bow in humility to what saves us all from this: Jesus. He rescues us from this trap! How do you experience the human dilemma Paul is trying to capture here? How does Christ save you from this?

Prayer: Holy Spirit, one with Christ, our Redeemer, and God, our Creator, fill every aspect of our being and our lives. Leave no place for sin or evil. Kindle our delight in the law of Christ who rescues us from the oblivion of death. Thanks. Amen.