²⁴ Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?

Wretched, miserable, distressed. Such is the lot of someone caught in the dilemma of trying to live up to the Law, yet honestly wrestling with his or her failure. Jesus taught us to pray, “And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil…” (Matt 6:13). The usual meaning of the word “deliver” carries the sense of “set free.” Jesus knew that sin would be a constant temptation, and we need to be constantly in prayer that the Lord would not bring us to sin, and He would free us from sin when we fall to it. We shouldn’t stay in it! Paul presents the miserable life of living in sin while constantly aware of the righteous demands of the Law.

Unbelievers, with nowhere else to wallow in this carrot-on-the-string march through life, are always reaching for but never attaining righteousness. Fear of death consumes them, religious observances master them and lack of true joy fills them. Many become jaded over time and numb the conscience, lowering the bar of righteousness to being a “nice” citizen, a do-gooder—to a self-righteous level more easily attainable by their perceived accomplishments.

Christians are not immune to falling back into such tendencies: fear, religious observances and lack of joy, or callousness of soul that comes from repeated failure in sin. The difference with Christians is that we can more easily blend in with the church and its multitude of believers, and pose walking the life of grace. However, the charge against the Laodiceans rings loudly: “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,’ and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked…” (Rev 3:15-17).

We don’t want to be miserable, lukewarm, yet many Christians have relocated their Christian lives to Laodicea. Outwardly they may smile on Sunday mornings, but life is a drudgery. Thoughts of sanctification focus on making the expected effort to go to church, tithe, not swear or commit adultery, and keep innumerable other “Christian laws.” This is not the abundant life Jesus promised (John 10:10). This certainly doesn’t sound like freedom from the Law. In the face of this dilemma, Paul asks, “Who will set me free?” I can’t set myself free; it must be someone, not a principle or works of righteousness.

Lord, I hate that wretched feeling that tempts me when I sin, that I must try harder next time. I am looking to You to free me from this dilemma, just like when I was saved.