Good morning! It is the sabbath and a day in which the Lord could step out on the cloud to gather His bride. Are we really ready to be received? in thought and actions? God knows our hearts; but, how many of us do what the passage in Romans 7:15-21 says.
Quoting from the Message
"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 obivous that God's command is necessary. But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can't keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sobotaging 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 not to 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 everytime. It happens so regularly that it's 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?"
How many of us fit into this passage? We read, pray, and will try to do good. But, how true it seems that we act upon that wrong we know deep within our hearts is for sure against God's command. I know I would be a liar if I said this passage didn't fit me. You don't have to admit to me nor anyone else but yourself and God, if this passage fits you too.
This is why I disagree with some when they advise others to completely cut off those that are struggling within themselves what this passage speaks of. Not justifing them; but it says we should be gentle with them not harsh. We should still love them and help them overcome this sin that trips them up.
We are not the judge but sort of like an assistant doctor. We should help them seek healing. True the one that truly helps is summoned up at the last of chapter 7 in Romans. I quote again from the Message------
" 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 am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different."
If we only allow Christ to work from within us now. He is the ANSWER, nobody else is. You know, it still goes back to the 15th verse. We know what is right but yet we do what we dont want to do.Question here, is this going to be this way until Christ comes for us? No body who is a believer wants to continue in sin. What do we do to gain self-control over the thoughts that engulfs our minds? What do we do when these thoughts start being acted out? As believers, are we to have these thoughts? Will these thoughts keep us here when Christ comes for the true believers? Will it engulf us so much that we will be "left behind"?
So many questions come out of just this short passage in Romans chapter 7. all we can do is let Christ take total control of our lives. When these thoughts come between the cracks; we need to go immediately to prayer. Take the full armor of God and put it on tightly.
As fellow brothers and sisters in Christ we need to assist each other with the burdens we carry. But remember we need to carry our load too, not depend so much on the others to carry our load completely. The Word says to rejoice with our brothers, cry with our brothers, and pray with our brothers. Not to turn completely from them, like some of our family insist the others to do. Why is it some of the "family of God" are so quick to reject the other members? Doesn't the bible tell us not to think we are "any better than the other"? For if we do, isn't just around the corner the fall? So enclosing, we all need to look within our own selves and see if what we do is right with God or is it that sin we detest that is engulfing our actions. Are we allowing Christ to take total control of our lives? Is it us controlling and rebelling against Christ in whom resides within each of us?
The beginning!!!!!
