巨大的爆裂聲響讓我嚇了一跳，知道聲音是從廚房傳來的，我趕快衝了過去。原來是我不小心啟動了空的咖啡機。拔掉插頭之後，我握著玻璃壺的把手，順手摸了一下壺底，想要確定如果不會太燙就放在瓷檯上。那一瞬間，玻璃壺底燙傷了我的手指，柔嫩的皮膚立即起了水泡。

當我丈夫為我處理傷口時，我不禁搖頭嘆息。我明知玻璃一定很燙，卻不曉得避開，我納悶地說：「真不曉得我為什麼會去摸那個玻璃壺。」

犯了這樣的錯誤之後，使我不禁想起了保羅所說的話，他談到了一個重要議題──罪惡的本性。

使徒保羅承認，明知自己不該做、且不想做的事，卻不知道為什麼仍會去做（羅馬書7章15節）。保羅確信聖經的律法讓人明辨是非（7節），他也承認肉體和心靈之間，常因為罪而發生真實又複雜的爭戰（15-23節）。他坦承自己的軟弱，也提到現今和永恆得勝的盼望（24-25節）。

當我們相信並接受基督時，祂就賜給我們聖靈，讓我們有能力做正確的選擇（8章8-10節）。祂使我們有能力遵行上帝的話語，不再因犯罪而遠離上帝，反要因為愛上帝，而得到上帝應許的豐盛生命。

The loud crackling noise startled me. Recognizing the sound, I raced to the kitchen. I’d accidently tapped the start button on the empty coffee maker. Unplugging the appliance, I grabbed the handle of the carafe. Then I touched the bottom of the container to ensure it wasn’t too hot to place on the tile counter. The smooth surface burned my fingertips, blistering my tender skin.

As my husband nursed my wound, I shook my head. I knew the glass would be hot. “I honestly do not know why I touched it,” I said.

My response after making such a mistake reminded me of Paul’s reaction to a more serious issue in Scripture—the nature of sin.

The apostle admits to not knowing why he does things he knows he shouldn’t do and doesn’t want to do (Rom. 7:15). Affirming that Scripture determines right and wrong (v. 7), he acknowledges the real, complex war constantly waging between the flesh and the spirit in the struggle against sin (vv. 15–23). Confessing his own weaknesses, he offers hope for victory now and forever (vv. 24–25).

When we surrender our lives to Christ, He gives us His Holy Spirit who empowers us to choose to do right (8:8–10). As He enables us to obey God’s Word, we can avoid the searing sin that separates us from the abundant life God promises those who love Him.