That may not have been Tim in the video, but this is him in Hawaii surfing. This was Tim's first time up on the board. His technique did improve. 🙂 I love my man!
Why do we do the things we do?
Three illustrations ran through my mind when I read Romans 7:14-25:
- The title, “That’s a lot of do-do”. (Cheesy? Yes, but it presented itself that way when reading the words. A form of the word “do” is mentioned about 23 times in the NLT version in these 12 verses.)
- TheTempations’ songs, “The Way You Do the Things You Do”. (You know you want to get up and move to this classic. And no, it’s not Tim surfing in the 1960’s time capsule video.)
- The vision of a little devil standing on one shoulder and a little angel on the other.
How typical is it for us (Okay, I can only speak for myself, but I have a pretty good feeling that I’m not alone.) to know what the right thing to do is, but go ahead and do what is not the best choice for us? This is a daily occurrence.
We are presented with choices each moment of every day. The steps I take, the words I say, the thoughts that come into my mind, the things “I do”, etc. often contradict what I know is to be the right option.
We are human. We will fail. But the question in verse 24 of “Who can save me from my miserable self?” is answered in verse 25…Jesus Christ.
When I read The Message (MSG) translation, I believe that it took away the “do” wording that got so easily tangled within each other, and presented the gospel spot on.
Romans 7:14-25
14-16 I can anticipate the response that is coming: “I know that all God’s commands are spiritual, but I’m not. Isn’t this also your experience?” Yes. I’m full of myself—after all, I’ve spent a long time in sin’s prison. What I don’t understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. So if I can’t be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God’s command is necessary.
17-20 But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can’t keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don’t have what it takes. I can will it, but I can’t do it. I decide to do good, but I don’t really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don’t result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.
21-23 It happens so regularly that it’s predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God’s commands, but it’s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.
24 I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn’t that the real question?
25 The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.
Some key components that spoke to me were:
- I’m full of myself. (Yes. Yes, I can be.)
- I do things I despise. (Yes. Yes, I do.)
- God’s command is necessary. (Yes. Yes it is.)
- I need something more! (Yes. I need to be more like Jesus!)
- Is there anyone who can help me? (Yes. Jesus can help me!)
Praying to turn away from sin and self, and turning to God, is a daily prayer. I know I can’t “do” the right thing in life on my own. I must have Jesus fill me and make me “do” what is good and godly.
Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Amen!
Blessings and God’s abundant love to all!