The Struggle is REAL!

ROMANS 7:15-20

For I do not understand my own actions.  For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.  Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good.  So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.  For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh.  For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.   For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.  Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 

THE STRUGGLE IS REAL!

I remember the first time I read this scripture.  I was a young believer, a little naive  but on fire!  I couldn't understand how the Apostle Paul had such a hard time living out what God said, what was in his heart;  after all, he was an Apostle.  He was also responsible for writing books of the bible that I was now trying to live.  It didn't take long after my conversion to understand just what was happening to him.  See as a young girl in my early 20's, I was soooo excited about this new journey with Jesus, but I had issues.   I didn't quite know how to keep my attitude or my thoughts in check!  Everything  seemed right because ... well it was NATURAL.   That was when it dawned on me that I had been born again, my natural responses were no longer right in my heart, but my mind and my actions didn't know it yet.  THE STRUGGLE IS REAL.

STUCK IN CHAPTER 7

Many years later, I found myself stuck in Romans Chapter 7.  I was constantly having to put myself in check, examine my motives, actions and thoughts in everything.  I would have thought that after 30+ years of living for God, we should all  be past this by now.  But  even today, just like the Apostle Paul, I realize that in me there really is STILL no good thing.  No matter how much I blog about God being good, His requirements for holiness or just laying aside things that weigh me down, living this life is a daily choice.  A choice I will have to make until Jesus comes for us all.  I recognize now that in Body of Christ  we are still natural people living to fulfill a spiritual call.  No matter how spiritual we are, we still get tired, we still get angry, depressed, and our flesh cries for attention we have vowed to never give it.   If we are not careful, we can get stuck in Chapter 7 fighting the Law of Sin and Death. 

COMPASSION FOR OTHERS

Because of this realization over the years, I have become more compassionate towards all believers, whether they are new or have been on the journey for years.  I don't excuse wrong or call it right, I just know that the struggle is real!  It was not just something that the Apostle Paul wrote about, it was something he had to deal with.  So, now instead of giving a 'side eye'  to struggling believers, I try to encourage them to live focused on the good, to read scripture to build up the good, so they have something to pull on in times of adversity.  We need encouragement more than anything today, we have enough in the world that will pull us down or enough critical people, Christians included- that feel you are not trying hard enough and Hell has warmed itself just for you.  Your struggle may not be my struggle, but if we really love each other the way the bible says, we should extend my hand to help each other. 

CHANGE YOUR CHAPTER

If by chance you are one who is struggling and are stuck in Romans Chapter 7, I encourage you to turn the page.  See Chapter 7 reminds us of the problem we have, it points us to our inability to please God by trying to live out His requirements by our desire to do it.   We need Chapter 7 to understand the problem, to know that none of us are able to fight this thing alone.  We all know and have lived that chapter, but Chapter 8 reminds us of what God has provided in the midst of our flaws.  It show shows us that living by the spirit will help us daily conquer the works of our flesh.  

Romans 8:1-5

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.  For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do.  By sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteousness requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 

If you are someone who is still fighting within yourself, stop trying to do it on your own.  It will never happen.  The struggle is real, but so is God's grace!  He is the one who enables us to live this thing out.  He is the one who will empower us and cause us to love Him even more as we delve into His word and just yield our hearts to Him.  He is the one who will give us grace and forgiveness when we miss it.   Have you ever wondered why was David called 'a man after God's own heart?'  Was it because of his actions?  NO WAY!  David had many issues, but he always knew to pull on God, go to God, get forgiveness and he knew without God, he was a mess.  God's heart is gained more than doing what is right, it is knowing we need Him even when we do.    I encourage you to stay in here, keep moving forward, stay in the word of God and know that He has not abandoned you!   Be a man or woman after His heart... Keep following Him!