This portion of Paul's letter is specifically addressed to the Jewish members of the churches in Rome. He is explaining to them a spiritual truth based on their common experience as Jews in reading and trying to obey the Law of Moses (Genesis through Deuteronomy). Today two thousand years later as we listen in on that conversation, it's easy to miss how it applies to us. But it does apply. In fact, Paul is talking about an area of relationship with God in which we all struggle. There is an odd phenomenon we observe in ourselves. When God speaks to us, whether through His written Word, or by the inner voice of the Holy Spirit, or prophetically through another human vessel, there can be an initial, momentary flash of stubborn resistance even though we may be certain we just heard from Him. As a born-again believer I love Him and have made a sincere, general commitment to follow Him in every way. Yet there's something about His specific ways of doing things that runs counter to the way I would expect or prefer to do them. Often, no almost always, when God speaks some kind of command to me, I find my first reaction is to argue with Him. My emotional response, if put into words, might be summarized as, "Oh no! You've got to be kidding!" This passage helps to explain why I react that way, and that insight is essential for me if I am going to let God train me to become like His Son.

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