Inner conflict and liberation.

A progressive reading of Romans 7, 14, 25 on the Daily Bible refresh with Dr.

Brad Miller.

Hello good people, my name is Dr.

Brad Miller here with you on the Daily Bible Refresh.

A daily reading from a progressive perspective of the New Testament.

We use a Revised Common Lectionary to give you the reading for this very day.

We're in year C of a three year cycle.

We are in the Pentecost season.

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We give you some points to ponder applicable.

We give you an action step to take.

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Here's our reading for the day from Romans 7, 14, 25.

From the message I can anticipate the response that is coming.

I know that all God's commands are spiritual, but I'm not.

Isn't this also your experience?

Yes.

I'm full of myself.

After all, I've spent a long time in sin's prison.

What I don't understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise.

So if I can't be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God's command is necessary, but I need something more.

For I know the law, but I still can't keep it.

And if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help.

I realize that I don't have what it takes.

I can will it, but I can't do it.

I decide to do good, but I don't really do it.

I decide to not do bad, but then I do it anyway.

My decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions.

Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.

It happens so regularly that it is predictable.

The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up.

I truly delight in God's commands, but it's pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight.

Parts of me covertly rebel and just when I least expect it, they take charge.

I've tried everything and nothing helps.

I'm at the end of my rope, is There no one who can do anything for me.

Isn't that the real question?

The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does.

He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but I'm pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.

Wow.

This is a story for, for me and for so many of us where Paul is really honest about the inner conflict that's going on here, about the wrestling that takes place, the inner struggle and, and the transformation that that can lead to and, and what this means for our own journeys for growth and change.

Let me offer you, offer you some points to ponder.

The one.

The first one is about going beyond individual sin.

While Paul speaks of a personal struggle, progressive Christianity sees this text as more than just an individual moral failing.

The internal conflict often reflects our participation in systematic injustice, which we may recognize as systematic racism, environmental destruction or economic inequality as wrong, yet find ourselves somehow complicit in these systems in spite of good intentions.

The second point to ponder is the myth of perfect progress.

Paul's raw honesty about his struggles challenges toxic positivity and perfectionism in religious spaces.

This isn't about a moral failure, but about embracing our humanity and understanding that transformation is a process, not a destination.

Growth happens in community, not in isolation.

A third point, liberation through compassion.

When Paul asks who will rescue me, the answer isn't about individual salvation, but about connection to something larger than ourselves.

In progressive faith, this rescue comes through community support, collective action and the recognition that we're all bound together in the work of liberation.

Let's talk about an action step.

Practice self compassion.

While examining an area where your actions don't align with your values.

Give yourself some grace rather than self judgment.

Approach it with curiosity.

Share your struggle with a trusted friend or community member or perhaps your pastor.

Remember, naming our contradictions is the first step toward transformation.

We'll come back with a closing prayer in just a minute, but just a reminder that we've got a great resource just for you.

It's called the ABC 1, 2, 3 Bible Study Method.

It's just a point by point process to help you with your at home Bible study practices.

You pick it up and at our website voiceofgoddaily.com there's several places there on the website and in the show notes and you can do just that.

Let's pray.

Oh God, you're the divine source of grace.

When we feel torn between what we know is right and what we find ourselves doing, help us be gentle with ourselves when systems of oppression seem too big to change and we feel complicit despite our best intentions.

Remind us that transformation is a journey, not a destination.

Give us courage to name our struggles, wisdom to seek support when needed, and trust that your love holds us, even in our contradictions, in honesty and hope.

Amen.

Amen.

Well, it is great to be with you here on Voice of God Daily.

Thank you for joining me.

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My name is Dr.

Brad Miller.

Remember that God's loyal love doesn't run out.

His merciful love hasn't dried up, is created new every morning.