Romans 7:18-21
"I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me."
Paul said that "I know that nothing good lives in me..." This is not only a word of agony, but it really reflects the nature of human beings. Human beings are born in sin and are influenced and bound by sin. Chinese people don't like to hear the word sin because we think we are brought up right in the Chinese teachings on morality. We are good husbands at home, good workers in the company, we never evade tax, and we even occasionally donate money to help the poor. If we see the people around us, we don't think too many, if any, are better than us. Although we are not saints and we're not as good as the best, we are much better than the worst. Judging from our behavior, God should give us a break and let us into heaven. People can only judge others from the outside, but God judge us from the inside. Is there anyone who dares to open up their inner mind to the public every minute and every day?
Actually, as soon as you feel that you are better than others, you have committed the sin of pride. The Bible says that pride is the origin of sin, therefore sin is not only about outward behavior, but also inner thoughts and mind. The origin of sin is the self-centeredness of human. Why do you fight with others? Because you think you are right. Why do you look down on others? Because you think you are better. Couples often fight because they think the other person needs to change, but they turn around and say "parents are always right" to their children and ask them to obey. To our own parents, however, we would tell them "this is the 21st century, the age of science, so you must change!" In any case, we always think we are right, practice and objective, but we can't see that we are the reason for conflicts in relationships. The greatest weakness of men is that we can't see our own sin. Sin has blinded our spiritual eyes and caused us unable to recognize God; sin makes us only see ourselves but cannot see the needs of others and it destroys relationships between people. If the problem of sin is not resolved, we will never have true peace, joy and satisfaction.
Paul confessed that he has the weakness of human beings and said that "nothing good lives in me." Because of this humble confession he's able to receive forgiveness and healing from God. Do you know what lives in you? Are you willing to humbly turn back to God and receive healing from Him?
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