Romans chapter 7.
Romans chapter 7 verse 4.
Then you came back to life again when Christ did, and are a new person. And now you are "married," so to speak, to the one who rose from the dead, so that you can produce good fruit, that is good deeds for God.
In Romans chapter 7 Paul tells us that the laws of God are there for us to follow and obey, but it is those very laws that revealed to us our sinful ways. He says in verses 7-9, "Well then, am I suggesting that these laws of God are evil? Of course not! No, the law is not sinful but it was the law that showed me my sin. I would never have known the sin in my heart---the evil desires that are hidden there---if the law had not said, 'You must not have evil desires in your heart.' But sin used this law against evil desires by reminding me that such desires are wrong and arousing all kinds of forbidden desires within me! Only if there were no laws to break would there be no sinning. That is why I felt fine so long as I did not understand what the law really demanded. But when I learned the truth, I realized that I had broken the law and was a sinner, doomed to die."
It can be a little confusing. I do know that I was hurting, alone and empty. I felt like there was no one but me, against all that I was expected to do and the addictions I held onto. I surely liked getting high, but I knew that my social life and health were badly affected by my actions. I couldn't continue on those paths for it would ruin me, my job, my family and my home were all being affected by me. I knew I was a good person who could do better but my will power and self-esteem led me to do things and say things that I did not like.
I decided to read the bible and see if God could help me in some way. That is when everything was revealed to me. I did not know before the things that I was doing wrong, but now the bible was showing me a better way to live if only I would battle free from the way I was living. This was a struggle that caused me confusion, filling me with questions and doubts.
Why had I not seen this before? Everyone I knew liked the old me and the old me had such a grip on me. The freedom to go out to a bar and do what I thought was socializing, until my words became slurred and I found myself waking up with a hangover, trying my best to get along with my co-workers. Then after some disappointment with myself, I would do it all over again.
The bible was showing me something completely different, yet it was not outrageous, it was common sense living without the hold of drugs or alcohol. How could I over come what I so wanted to get away from?
It is interesting to read about the very things that I struggle with in the bible. God asked Adam and Eve to stay away from the thing that He knew would affect them. They were innocent and unaware until tempted to go against God's wishes. The Israelites trusted God and He delivered them from the life of slavery they had, yet they complained and turned away from God, always trying to follow their own ways. God's promises did not matter to them. All the miracles and provisions did not matter.
Paul in Romans chapter 7 says, "I don't understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I can't. I do what I don't want to---what I hate." He continues to beat himself up over knowing what is right from wrong and complaining that his old nature still is in control. He finally says, "So you see how it is: my new life tells me to do right, but the old nature that is still inside me loves to sin. Oh, what a terrible predicament I'm in! Who will free me from my slavery to this deadly lower nature? Thank God! It has been done by Jesus Christ our Lord. He has set me free."
I did not give up on the bible and what I was looking for. I tried to get along with my friends and continue my old life style but it was doomed to go away. I read about Jesus and my opportunity to receive Him into my life and that by doing so God with all His power and mercies would set me free from my desire to follow my old ways.
In John chapter 16, Jesus tells the disciples that He must go away, back to the one who sent Him. He says, "None of you seem interested in the purpose of My going; none wonders why." He tells them that if He does not go then the Comforter will not come, but when He does go, then He will send Him to them. He says, "The Comforter will convince the world of it's sin and of the availability of God's goodness and of deliverance from judgement. The world's sin is unbelief in Me; there is righteousness available because I go to the Father and you shall see Me no more; there is deliverance from judgement because the prince of this world has already been judged."
I was pretty mixed up because of the life I had created and followed. I did not like the way I lived but it kept a hold upon me. At least until the words of the Bible showed me that my ways were nothing new and that through Jesus there is a new and better life available. I was one of those who did not care about Jesus or put any thought into Him at all. I was not interested. But when I called upon Him for help, the Comforter came and showed me the errors of my ways and showed me what it is like to walk with Jesus, loving God.
He has shown me what it is like to live in the glory of Jesus, which is God's glory and love for us. It is not confusing at all. The Holy Spirit is the voice of Jesus guiding you along the right paths to walk upon. He is the one who brings you success, patience and understanding. Troubles will not stop coming and we will not stop doing things that are not right. But by focusing our lives on Jesus we are prepared for any circumstance that will come along. We are at peace with our lives, content that Jesus is with us and God is with us.
God has made this possible and available for everyone.
Thank You Father for Jesus. Thank You for our place to turn and the lives we can have with You. Just Amazing! 😊
John chapter 16 verses 26 and 27.
Jesus told them, "Then you will present your petitions using My name! And I won't need to ask the Father to grant your requests, for the Father Himself loves you dearly because you love Me and believe that I came from the Father. "
Hebrews chapter 10 verses 21-23.
And since this great High Priest of ours rules over God's household, let us go right in, to God Himself, with true hearts fully trusting Him to receive us, because we have been sprinkled with Christ's blood to make us clean, and because our bodies have been washed with pure water. Now we can look forward to the salvation God has promised us. There is no longer any room for doubt, and we can tell others that salvation is ours, for there is no question that He will do what He says.
Philippians chapter 4 verse 13.
I can do everything God asks me with the help of Christ, who gives me the strength and power.
Very insightful
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