I really appreciate how Paul frames up sin in this chapter...not just as a temptation, or not just a poor choice, but as an enemy.  Sin is an active adversary in our lives.  And it lurks right there at the point of decision - ready to pounce when we are about to make the RIGHT decision.

I typically hone in on verses 15-20 in this chapter, but today something else jumped out at my - the verses right after those.

Look at v21 - “So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand.”  Isn’t that always the case?  This sounds like a romanticized version of the good angel on one shoulder and bad on the other.  And that’s life.

I am glad that God comes to us through the Holy Spirit, to help in waging war against sin, and against evil.  I am so thankful that God sees me as a saint who occasionally sins rather than a sinner who has to make my way back to Him...I couldn’t make it.

The other thing that I think about when reading this, which is a little less ‘chipper’, is the finality of this relationship with sin...it doesn’t stop.  This is life - working to get through sin.  We can conquer one battle against sin, only to find another.  It just isn’t going to change on this side of Heaven.  So, I should consider that a reminder, and should consider the fact that humility had better become a close friend...I am not going to graduate from needing it anytime soon.

That’s my prayer today...that I would embrace this relationship with sin, that I would see it as a road to God, as a struggle that helps me grow in my relationship with Him, and that I would continue to grow more and more humble as I recognize this never-ending need for God’s grace.