ROMANS 7:15

“For I do not understand what I am doing; for I am not practicing what I want to do, but I do the very thing I hate.”

There’s an old hymn written by Charles Wesley back in 1738 entitled, “Jesus, Lover of My Soul” which I believe has a line that fits perfectly with today’s verse. In comparing our sinful self to God, Wesley writes in the last two phrases of stanza 3:

Just and holy is thy name,

I am all unrighteousness;

False and full of sin I am,

Thou are full of truth and grace.

Do you know what the term “befuddled” means? It means you are unable to think clearly, you are confused or perplexed. I think Paul was befuddled when he wrote the next several verses. Just kidding. Every word he penned was under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit Who is never befuddled. Quite the contrary, He always says exactly what the Father instructs. In today’s verse, Paul confesses his struggle in this human flesh. What is Paul trying to tell us in this verse?

APPLICATION

Paul uses three different Greek words in this verse to translate “do.” Interesting, huh? The first is katergazomai and means to work fully or accomplish.  HELPS Word-studies says this about the word. “Katergázomai (from katá, ‘down, exactly according to,’ intensifying ergázomai, ‘work, accomplish’) – literally, ‘work down to the end-point,’ i.e. to an exact, definite conclusion.” So, this “doing” is a working until the end.

The second word used is prassó. It refers performing repeatedly or habitually. Paul says he is not practicing what he wants to do. For me, that’s Scripture memory. I try to work at it daily, but I do not always get it done. I really want to do better at it in 2026. Maybe that’s my first resolution. No, let’s make it my first new habit.

The third “do” is poieó which is the common verb used (over 600 times) in the New Testament for doing something. This normally refers to a single act rather than a habit as prassó implies. But all three of these words are in the Present tense which means it’s ongoing. Ask yourself today these three questions: 1. Are you fully accomplishing your purpose? 2. Are you repeating good habits that lead you towards Jesus? 3. Are you continually doing things that lead you away?

Father, I thank You that You have given me the wisdom to seek You first above all things.

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