I wonder how long it will take me to catch on to things. I wonder at the oscillations in my life, the inconsistencies, the incongruities, (“not harmonious in character; inconsonant; lacking harmony of”), the blindness to the depth of my own sin, the insensitivity to my own nature, the confusion, the pride, the deception, the death. When will I finally, completely agree with my brother Paul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n“O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?”<\/em> (Romans 7:24<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing:”<\/em> (Romans 7:18a<\/a>)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
I imagine that I long to be like my Lord. But I squirm and struggle in every trial that comes along. If it isn’t comfort that lulls me to complacency then it is pain that makes me desire comfort. Even when I think I have faith it is really by His mercy and His grace that I’m not consumed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n“It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.”<\/em> (Lamentations 3:22<\/a>)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The phrase “three steps forward two steps back” doesn’t seem to describe the process. It’s something more like “constantly failing and falling apart except for God’s miracles in my life”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now it may sound like I’m being hard on myself but that’s not really the case at all. First of all, the reality is that I really do deserve death. (Romans 6:23<\/a>) Praise God, there is a “however”. The “however” is that I’m born again and now have the life of Christ in me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n“the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me”<\/em> (Galatians 2:20<\/a>)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Praise God that even the processes is entrusted to Him otherwise there’d be no hope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n“For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring Word of God.”<\/em> (1 Peter 1:23<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”<\/em> (Philippians 1:6<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith…”<\/em> (Hebrews 12:2<\/a>)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The Gospel is good news indeed. I am indeed being conformed to the Life of Christ that is in me as I become conformed unto his death. I lay aside my earthly trophies and loose my life for His sake. (Matthew 10:39<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nSo I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
\ntill my trophies at last I lay down;
\nI will cling to the old rugged cross,
\nand exchange it some day for a crown. (The Old Rugged Cross<\/a>)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n