The struggle with sin is real. Even Paul fights the battle against concupiscence of the flesh. He still has a force within him that fights against his knowledge of God's law. He's knows what is right but still finds himself sometimes choosing lesser things. But Paul also knows the answer to this conundrum.
Miserable one that I am!
Who will deliver me from this mortal body?
Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Do we fight on our own or do we turn to Jesus for deliverance? Our own delight in God's law isn't enough without the saving help that only Jesus can give. The time to turn to him is now. We ought to recognize in our day many signs that the world is being called and urged to repent.
You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky;
why do you not know how to interpret the present time?
Really, it is pretty obvious. Wars and rumors of war. That sort of thing. We need to turn to Jesus now and not later because later is not guaranteed.
If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate,
make an effort to settle the matter on the way;
It is much better to live in the freedom Jesus died to give us now than to wait until some later day when we finally get ready. Waiting might make more sense if we thought we were going to have to work to achieve freedom. But as it is, we need to settle with our opponent. We need to accept the peace Jesus offers now. We don't have to stubbornly continue to walk the prison path. The signs of the times are trying to reveal this. Jesus is ready to acquit us of sin and to equip us to walk in freedom. All we need to do is "make an effort to settle the matter on the way". We need only ask.
Let your compassion come to me that I may live,
for your law is my delight.
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