THE INWARD BATTLE OF ROMANS SEVEN

"For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do." (Romans 7:15)

Devotion 7 of 23

WHAT I HATE TO DO

    " . . . but what I hate, that I do." It requires an honest and informed soul to make such a confession. This is not the acknowledgment of a murderer like Cain! It is not the acknowledgment of a covetous man like Aachan. It is not the admission of a profane person like Esau. It is not even the confession of a godly person who sinned like David. This is the admission of a person who lived holily, justly, and blamelessly (1 Thess 2:10). If he had not told us of this, we would never have known it.

    Other versions read as follows. "But what I hate, that do I." (KJV) "But what I hate I do." (NIV) "But I do the very thing I hate." (NRSV) "But what I have hate for, that I do." (BBE)

    Again, this is the statement of a sensitive soul. He hated more than the outward show of sin, or the baser sort of transgressions. Some people who wear the name of Jesus do not "hate iniquity" as fully as they should (Psa 97:10; Romans 12:9). They are too calloused toward things that are hated by God, and are an abomination unto Him. For this reason, they cannot comprehend why Paul speaks as he does. His spirit was so sensitive to sin that the very unwanted intrusion of it into his thoughts was hated and abhorred. If professing believers possessed this kind of sensitivity to sin, there would be less reports of fallen leaders and people returning to the ways of the world!

    It is important to see that Paul is not speaking as a sort of spiritual superman. His analysis is the result of living in the energy of the new creation--a privilege vouchsafed to every person in Christ Jesus. This is the experience of those who live by faith, walk in the Spirit, and press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.  it is the result of setting ones affection on things above, and not on things on the earth. Such an individual is seeking the things that are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God (Col 3:1-3).

    The unwanted conditions declared in this passage were not sought, but were the result of living in the fellowship of Jesus (1 Cor 1:9) and the communion of the Holy Spirit (2 Cor 13:14). The things that he hated were precisely that--things he hated! He did not have a hidden desire fore them, nor did he make provision for their presence. They were resident in his flesh, in which he acknowledged nothing good dwelt (7:18). He contended with these things because he was in the body, not because he desired them. This is clear declaration of living by faith.

      I am sure Paul did not seek "despair of life," but there was a time when he wrestled with it (2 Cor 1:8). He would rather have not experienced "sorrow," but he did (Phil 2:27). I know he would not have preferred "fears" to come into his mind, but they did (2 Cor 7:5). These are the better part of unacceptable thoughts. There are also "imaginations" that must be thrown down (2 Cor 10:5). The good news is that we have weaponry to do precisely that--cast down intruding thoughts and imaginations.

      As a child of God, you must not claim ownership for things you hate--even though they may course through your mind. If such things are against your will, it is because they are against your nature. If they are against your nature, it is because it is new. Take heart, and fight the good fight of faith!

PRAYER POINT: Father, I thank You through Jesus for changing the things that I hate!

-- Tomorrow: DOES THIS APPLY TO WORDS AND DEEDS? --