Revcort's Ramblings

Scripture Focus

“For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing… Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” — Romans 7:19, 24–25 (ESV)

Devotional Thought

Paul’s words in this passage are deeply personal—and deeply relatable to anyone who has truly walked with Christ. They describe the honest tension between what we know is right and what we sometimes still do wrong. It’s not the cry of a rebel—it’s the groan of a redeemed soul at war with sin.

Many debate whether Paul is describing a believer or an unbeliever here, but the struggle he outlines is unmistakably Christian. Unbelievers don’t wrestle with sin at this level; they may feel guilt, but not godly grief. The one who hates sin, grieves over it, and longs to be free from it is a person in whom the Spirit dwells. This inner war—the clash between the law of the Spirit and the pull of the flesh—is proof of new life within.

Paul’s honesty reminds us that even mature believers stumble. The difference is that we no longer make peace with our sin. We long to be free. And that longing leads us to gratitude—“Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” The deliverance we crave is not found in self-discipline or moral strength but in the finished work of Christ. One day, this battle will end. The same Savior who delivered us from sin’s penalty will also deliver us from its presence. Until then, we fight—not as defeated captives, but as redeemed soldiers awaiting victory’s final trumpet.

Reflection Questions

1. How does Paul’s transparency about his struggle with sin encourage you in your own walk with Christ?

2. In what areas of life do you most feel the “war” between the flesh and the Spirit?

3. How can gratitude for Christ’s ultimate deliverance strengthen your daily fight against sin?

Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You for delivering me from the power and penalty of sin. When I feel the war within, remind me that You have already won the victory. Strengthen me by Your Spirit to hate what You hate and to love what You love. I long for the day when this battle will be over and I will stand before You whole and holy. Until then, help me to fight faithfully. Amen.