Romans 7:21-25 – “I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. ²² For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, ²³ but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. ²⁴ Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? ²⁵ Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand, I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.”

Today, as I read, prayed, and mused on the Word of God, the immeasurable and incomprehensible love of God flooded my consciousness.  The width, breadth, depth, height, and eternality of that love blows my mind.  That love is foreign to human reason. It is impossible for flesh!

Romans 3:3 reminds us that every living human has erred (sinned).   Romans 7:22-23 brings a deeper revelation. We are not just sinners. We are sin!  Romans 7:15-21 brings us face to face with the inescapable reality that we cannot will to be good, holy, and righteous.  Even if we have the restraint and willpower to “not commit certain acts,” the heart is still the issue.

Grace deals with the “want to,” not just the “doing.”  The tenth commandment, “Covetousness,” reveals the true nature of the heart.  It deals with the “want to.”   We don’t hate or harm, but do we want to?  We don’t do many things, but do we want to?  Would we if there was no fear of punishment?  The root must be dealt with, or the heart will produce weeds.

The incredibleness of love brings us grace when we deserve justice and judgment.   Love allows us to live! Romans 5:19 reminds us that Grace is always Greater!  The fact that in our unconverted condition, we “are sin, not just those who sin,” is the catalyst to realizing the Greatness of Grace and the immeasurability of love!

We are transformed by love!   We are the New creations of God!  God has dealt with and is dealing with the “want to” in our lives.  He transforms our “will do” into His “want to!”   Our hearts change, and we who were sin become righteousness IN JESUS!   You are loved by incomprehensible love!

Father, make my want to Your want to!