God is such a loving God! He is a forgiving God! 

But one of the things that cloud such amazing love and right standing with God is ... us, in fact, our "old nature us" - our "deep self."

Each and every Christian is so different in body and soul. And within each of us are different drives, yearnings, longings, and propensities. At birth, God gave us talents, and upon the second birth, He gave us gifts. He placed us within His body, the church, and thus gave us a new family. He gave us the Holy Spirit to live within us. He has given us the power of prayer, and a storehouse of love from where to pull and elaborately use it for others.

But, every now and again, that "old deep self" sneaks by and we fall to that one temptation that so easily stumbles us. And typically, we fall hard into that temptation which is like spiritual quick sand sucking us under. And no matter how hard we try, we cannot free ourselves from its entanglements. 

Oh my! So, what does this mean? Are we sunk in that mire of sin to never rise out of it? Paul echoed the same distress in Romans 7:24 saying, "Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?" NLT

Then Paul thankfully exclaims with great gratitude, "I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord..." Then immediately afterwards, he says one of the most profound sayings ever to be spoken. He procalims: "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus..."

This means when we fail, especially when we fall hard into sin, to stop, turn towards God, and look at Jesus! Run to God! He is there with great mercy and grace to gather and embrace us into His most loving and forgiving and open arms!. Then He sets us back in life to daily live for Him again once more. We then can be stronger to "...not grow weary in well doing..."

So, always, as Hebrews 12:2 states, "Look unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith..."

Through the Holy Spirit, follow the Lordship of Jesus Christ!

Amen.