Delight in the Laws of God

Paul delighted in the law of God according to the inward man. Romans 7:22. This is the same as delighting in holiness, righteousness, and goodness. Romans 7:12. He did not delight in the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2) which compels people to sin, but he delighted in giving good things to the others in whatever he did—in the spiritual realm as well as in the physical. Compelled by the love of Christ, he defrauded no one. 2 Corinthians 7:2.

Whatever we delight in becomes part of our nature. The ungodly delight in living according to their lusts, therefore they become evil and selfish. Paul delighted in denying his lusts, and living for the oth­ers; consequently, he became good. He lived what he exhorted to, “that we should not lust after evil things.” 1 Corinthians 10:6.

Paul served the church with zeal and fervor. In his zeal for the good he became aware of the fact that he was taken captive by “another law in his members.” Romans 7:23. The first law was the law of God in which he delighted and which caused him to become good. The other law was in himself and it took him captive, so that he cried out, “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” Romans 7:24.

Paul was a “wretched man” even though his only delight was in doing good. What did this wretchedness consist of? Did he have a bad conscience because he was slothful, drew back, or sought vain­glory? No, this was not a reproach for having sinned. Paul was set free from the flesh by the body of Christ; he served God in the new­ness of the Spirit. Romans 7:6. He loved God’s laws and revelations. 2 Timothy 4:8. Consequently, the reason why he was wretched was that he saw himself. It was a manifestation of “another law in the mem­bers.”

There is a saying that “where there is a will, there is a way.” This also applies in the spiritual realm. When you delight in doing the good, you will develop a hate for the evil. We partake of divine na­ture by hungering and thirsting for the laws of God.

Paul was set free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2) that compels people to sin, but he loved whatever the Spirit revealed to him according to what this other law was working in him. He de­lighted in paying heed to himself and to the doctrine (1 Timothy 4:16); he delighted in finding his life and losing it.

Paul discovered the law that showed him that evil was present when he wanted to do the good. Romans 7:21. Delighting in such laws that have the effect of making us humble in our own eyes is un­speakably great; it gives us spiritual ballast.

There are many blessed laws of God that set us free from sin and bind us to Christ (2 Corinthians 1:21), but their effect depends on our delight in them. May God work mightily in us that we may be filled with all delight in doing the good. 2 Thessalonians 1:11.