No more Struggle

I have a ton of stuff written for my time in the Word but it is beginning to be painful to rewrite everything for blog publishing.  See I spend my "quiet time" in my office about 100 yards away.  There is a wireless connection there for the benefit of my son's schooling etc but my computer is probably at least ten years old.  So it has been "unconnected" for years now.  I don't need the net for business and when taxes need to be paid up I do it from inside the house where I presently am.  So Jesse, my computer genius son, is going to install a CD drive that I can burn my studies on.  Then I can physically take it and install it here where - Glory Amazement! - I can push a button and whamo!  I've got it here - up on my blog!  Certainly not the most efficient way, considering all the techy stuff out there, but good for me.

I hate to waste space on this kind of incidental stuff so before I leave I want to share some thoughts from my recent study in Romans (I cannot seem to leave the book - the waters are deep and so very satisfying).

I remember so many years ago the struggle I have had when knowing the weaknesses I have how I could not ever seem to overcome them.  Some of these struggles are still present with me.  No matter how much effort I put forth It was inevitable that I would succumb to them again.  For those familiar with the this portion of Romans then you know I am talking about Romans 7 but specifically 7:21-23.  It is not until I realized that my effort amounts to nothing and that I have no concern about failing my God that I can be a conqueror.  For the bottom line, as always, is Christ.  Christ has accepted and shown his love to me by calling me his child.  This has hit home in a powerful way, even today, when I read a passage in Romans 11:29.  It states that the "gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable".  This is huge!  Now there is controversy regarding Romans 11 to whom it applies to - National Israel or Spiritual Israel, but irregardless the promise and gift that is spoken of is to us who believe.  Elsewhere Jesus himself says that "My sheep here my voice" and "No one can pluck them from my hand" for we worship him in Spirit and in truth.  Because of these we have great confidence in approaching the throne of God for He loves His children and never prevents them from coming to him in time of need.  So in conclusion, the guilt I felt when I failed was my own.  I realize this now.  But it has prevented me from enjoying the kind of relationship Jesus wanted for me.  For it prevented me from coming to him in faith as he requires.  But thank God that he is patient and so worked within me a mind to receive this great news.  It is evidence, to me, of his hand moving me beyond merely taking only the "milk" of the word to the place of receiving the meat.  Romans 8:1 says,

 "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus".  

I am in him; are you?  If you are then you too have reason for confidence - but not in the flesh for he has redeemed us by rescuing us from the bonds of sin, to obey its evil desires, to freedom in being slaves to righteousness - in obeying the will of God.  Thanks be unto God!

-Joe