Only by the Cross

Do you find yourself struggling with things of the past, sin, or feelings. Remember we can't live for Jesus by our own strength or willpower. It takes faith in Christ Jesus, and our whole being surrendered to Him. Just as Jesus gave up His own will in the garden of Gethsemane, (Luke 22:42. Saying, "Father, if You be willing, remove this cup: nevertheless not My will, but Thine be done"). This is a price of surrender, to live for Christ is to die to self.  If self doesn't die we will struggle to do what is right in the sight of God. This will go on as long as we let self, flesh, exist. Rom 7:7-25. Paul shows us the struggle against sin, v:15. "I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate." Have you ever been at this point in your walk with Christ? I believe all Christians have. Unfortunately, most of the church today battles with this, and find themselves unable to stop doing what they don't want to do. v:17: "So now it is no longer I who does it, but sin that dwells within me." Nothing good dwells in us, in our flesh. We must put our faith in the Cross of Christ, and not our willpower, but His Power. The more we put faith in the Cross and our faith remains in the Cross, the sin nature will be dormant, which then causes us no problem with the flesh. Though this sin nature still dwells in us, It Does Not Rule Us. Thank God for Jesus Christ our Lord, who made us a path to victory and deliverance. He took on the path to Calvary, dying to His own will, that we might be free from sin and death, and have eternal life with Him. Thank God today. Praise Him.