Dear Bro Driggs, just read your post and could not control my tears. You are not alone. I do find life hard and I to wish I could stop sinning. I am terribly vexed with sin. I think I am the worst of sinners. God knows our hearts and he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. I await the day when I shall see my Lord Jesus face to face and He will comfort me and make things right. God be with you, Gene
Thanks Brother Gene, out of all this pain and misery and sinfulness there is good news. Jesus came to save sinners, and He has saved some of the worst in the world, and if He can save the apostle Paul who really was the worst ever, then He can and will save us too.
1Ti 1:15 Here is a saying that you can trust. It should be accepted completely. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. And I am the worst sinner of all.
1Co 1:26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when God chose you. Not many of you were considered wise by human standards. Not many of you were powerful. Not many of you belonged to important families.
1Co 1:27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise. He chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
1Co 1:28 God chose the things of this world that are common and looked down on. He chose what is not considered to be important to do away with what is considered to be important.
1Co 1:29 So no one can brag to God.
Mat 9:11 The Pharisees saw this. So they asked the disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and "sinners'?"
Mat 9:12 Jesus heard that. So he said, "Those who are healthy don't need a doctor. Sick people do.
Mat 9:13 Go and learn what this means, 'I want mercy and not sacrifice.' (Hosea 6:6) I have not come to get those who think they are right with God to follow me. I have come to get sinners to follow me."
I find alot of hope in knowing He likes to save losers, base things, sinners and nothings of the world like me. It gives me faith and hope to know He made me like this and He can destroy and re-create me to be something better. This might sound crazy, but Im very thankful He made me like this.
Jer 18:4 His hands were shaping a pot out of clay. But he saw that something was wrong with it. So he formed it into another pot. He shaped it in the way that seemed best to him.
Rom 9:21 Or has the potter no right to make from a given lump of clay this pot for honorable use and that one for dishonorable?
2Ti 2:20 Now in a great house there are not only gold and silver utensils, but wooden and earthenware also, and some indeed for honor, yet some for dishonor."
2Ti 2:21 If, then, anyone should ever be purging himself from these, he will be a utensil for honor, hallowed, and useful to the Owner, made ready for every good act.
These Scriptures gives me alot of hope, and gives me a desire to stop sinning, and it is my sincerest hope that it gives someone else hope and confidence not in yourselves but in Christ. I dont say or post theses things for my glory, or to make myself look good, cause Lord knows what a sinner I have been, how can I possibly brag or think Im anything good, how can I think all this comes out of me, considering what a low life I have been, and how much I use to love to sin? All the glory and power is His and His alone. What an awesome work He is doing.
Peace, Hope and Faith
G.Driggs