If you know anything about the apostle Paul, you know that he was an incredibly driven and focused man. Both in his life as a persecutor of the early church and after his conversion he fought ferociously for the things he believed in. One of my favorite quotes from Paul comes from Philippians chapter 3 where he says, “¹² Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. ¹³ Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” If you simply read these words you can basically surmise that this is a guy who knows what he needs to do and is going after it.

To be honest with you, I have previously found it rather difficult to relate with Paul. The reason for this is not primarily that he lived thousands of years ago in a culture that I am mostly unfamiliar with. The reason that I have found it difficult to relate with him is because a lot of times I don’t feel nearly as focused as he was. When I read through his letters I feel so convicted. He seems to have been so focused and passionate about the cause of Christ whereas I feel more divided at times. My heart is ultimately in the right place but I wish I had his focus.

Do you know anyone who just seems to be focused on one thing? It may be a sport. It may be a cause. I think that some of the most admirable people are the ones that have laser-like focus on one mission and go after it with everything they have. The challenge however, for many of us is that we feel TORN.

“I want to follow Christ with everything but it’s tough with all the requirements of my job.” “I want to spend more time in prayer but I’m just too busy.” “I want to have an amazing marriage but we just don’t seem to connect anymore.” “I want to do the right thing but it’s just so hard sometimes.” “I want to live a life of significance and value but I struggle with this addiction.” The list can go on and on but I’m sure you get the point.

Sometimes we just feel so torn. We know the right thing to do but somehow we find ourselves going in the opposite direction. This is one of the reasons I have had such difficulty relating with Paul until I really read Romans 7. Read this little excerpt from that chapter:

¹⁴ We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. ¹⁵ I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. ¹⁶ And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. ¹⁷ As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. ¹⁸ I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.^[c] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. ¹⁹ 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. ²⁰ 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.”

This is Paul writing this and this is after he has surrendered his life to Christ. Paul still struggled with feeling torn just like we do. This is such a relief to me because it gives voice to this deep war that takes place inside. I want to be an amazing husband. I want to be the best dad ever. I want to serve Jesus with all my heart….but I covertly rebel in my heart every single day. As nice as it is to know that Paul knew what this is like, is there any good news? I’m glad you asked (-; If we continue to the end of the chapter, Paul will gives us the answer.  

^“21 So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. ²² For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; ²³ but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. ²⁴ What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? ²⁵ Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

I don’t know what this passage says to you but I will tell you exactly what it says to me. It says to me that Jesus gets the depths of our condition. He understands how torn we are and here’s the best part…he has the power and willingness to deliver us. Paul said, ” Who will rescue me…” and not who might rescue me. If you already have a relationship with Christ, this promise is for you so rest assured. If you don’t have a relationship with him, he’s just a prayer away. He paid the ultimate price for our sins and he loves you dearly. As people we struggle with being torn daily but thankfully there is a tremendous amount of hope to be found in what Jesus can and will do.