Many times on our Christian journey we find ourselves struggling to deal with the sin that so easily besets us. Speaking for myself, right now the Lord has me dealing with gluttony and using food as an emotional response. Although God has said that He is the God of all Comforts, I still found myself going on a junk food binge on this particular weekend. I knew what the God's word said in regards to the sin of gluttony, however, I found myself struggling to apply the Word and not giving into my flesh. Paul details a similar struggle in Romans 7:21-24 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? NKJV
As I was staring at myself in the bathroom mirror wondering why I failed again, and beating myself up mentally. The Lord gave me a word of wisdom that dried my eyes and gave me hope. I would like to share it with you dear reader, where ever you are.
A newborn baby takes many falls when first learning how to walk. But with each stumble, the parent helps the child to get back up again. As the child grows he stumbles less and less. The potential to trip and fall is always there (sin nature). But the expectation is that as the child grows into adulthood, his walk will become sure and he will be able to walk, run, and leap.
So it is in our walk with Christ. Sin is always present in our mortal body (Romans 7:17) with the ability to trip us up. But as we mature in Christ, first feeding on the milk of His word (1 Peter 2:2) and then progressing to solid foods; we get stronger and are able to discern between right and wrong (Hebrews 5:14). As a parent watches over a baby to catch them when they fall so our Heavenly Father watches over us(Psalms 11:5).
But there is an expectation for children to hit developmental milestones.
If a child does no hit certain milestones, then extra training is put in place to get the child where they need to be. God expects us to grow and mature in Christ. If we as God's children refuse to grow; Then God will give us situations that will force developmental maturity (Psalms 68:6, Wilderness Wanderings). This is all so that we can come into the fullness of the knowledge of Christ.
The worst thing I could do is to not get back up again after stumbling. You have to get back up and keep moving forward. Eventually, as the Holy Spirit enables you to practice righteousness the call of sin will grow fainter and fainter. Until you reach a point that you can walk sure-footed in your fellowship with God. So get up and continue your walk of faith!
