I would not have known what sin was except through the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “Do not covet.” But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire. (Romans 7:7–8, NIV 1984).
My Musings – Can you identify with this passage? Probably. When my son was young, too young for even PG-13 movies, there were certain television shows and cartoons that I told him he was not allowed to watch. He recently told me (he is 37 years old now), “Dad, the only reason I wanted to watch them was because you told me not to.” “It produced in [him] every kind of [forbidden] desire,” to do just that. He is not alone. It happened in the Garden with the first man and woman and will continue until the last man or woman is standing.
My Advice – In between, there are temptations and sins in this world that are impossible for us to overcome on own. But thankfully, to use what is now part of our vernacular, there is a “vaccine” for that. So, what is it that “will rescue [us] from this body of death?” (Romans 7:24, NIV 1984). The only cure that can rescue us. It is, rather He is, called the Holy Spirit. He resides within every believer. That which we cannot do (or rather cannot avoid doing) on our own, He makes possible. “Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:25, NIV 1984). But if you don’t have Jesus, you don’t have Him. If you have Jesus, you have Him.
The Brew Is A Musing 