Message summary: Our first daily text and refers to a much greater battle than my struggles with golf!

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"I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do" (Romans 7:15). "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?" (Romans 7:24).

Two fellow native Missourians make these observations about golf:  Mark Twain called golf a "good walk spoiled" and my own Uncle Gentry, a farmer, called it "cow pasture pool". (You need to know what a cow pasture is like to get this!)

Yesterday I visited with Jim, a friend who had a nice looking polo shirt with an embroidered logo. I looked more carefully to see that it read "St Andrews Old Course" which is considered the oldest golf course in the world. Jim had visited the course and bought the shirt as a memento.

We have many readers who enjoy golf, both playing and watching it. We have tried our hand (wrists) at playing golf but never got good at it. (Brooksyne only played a few times). Actually I am terrible at it. I heard another non-golfing preacher once say he just didn't like to play something he wasn't good at which sums it up for me as well.

I just couldn't get the hang of hitting that little white ball with the long stick. I was much better at playing tennis with a racquet that has a much larger hitting surface and more margin of error.

Playing golf I'd either drive the club into the ground or scalp the ball with a mighty whack causing it to dribble a few feet. When I did connect the ball to the club I tended to slice it, one time hitting a car (with the ball, not the golf club). But every now and then I would really make a good shot which was very fulfilling so l understand why people actually enjoy this sport.

I would be described as a golf duffer, a term referring to a player who is bad at golf. When I played I tried to concentrate and follow good technique. "This time I'm going to do it right" I'd tell myself.  I'd muster all my concentration, bend slightly, keep a firm grip, head down, eye on the ball, and follow through as I bit my lip.  This is it.  I back swing and …. every so often a good shot. "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do."

Well, actually that's our first daily text and refers to a much greater battle than my struggles with golf!

The seventh chapter of Romans is among the most difficult portions of the Bible. Devout expositors have grappled for centuries with just what Paul was seeking to communicate. My golf experience illustrates his teaching, but Paul is not seeking to master a golf swing rather he is referring to sin and the flesh.  I believe Paul is writing from the perspective of his current relationship with Christ since in verse 22 he writes, "For in my inner being I delight in God's law". (Another interpretation views Paul writing Romans 7 from the perspective of his unregenerate state.) See below for a link to study notes.

"I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do." Can you identify with Paul?  I sure can.  What are the issues in your life as you seek to overcome sin and the flesh?  I can think of several in mine.  These are the obstacles that I believe are referred to in Hebrews 12:1 as "everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles" that we are to throw off. 

We don't know the personal issues that Paul was dealing with and any conjecture as to what they are is bound to be dangerous.  But he says, "what a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?" (v. 24). So who will?

The great apostle tells us. "Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord!"  (v. 25). In Romans 8 he goes on to speak of the power of the Spirit in living a victorious, overcoming life. Now that is encouraging!

Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13.

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber