Faith and Failure

"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Romans 8:1

Our collection of "pleasant stones" is composed of "green stone" verses which ring with the victory cry of God's redeemed ones. this "blue stone" verse above could rest easily among the green ones. But I have put it here among our verses pertaining to faith because it is so sure. In chapter 7 of Romans, Paul has described the depths of us all. He has laid his finger on every weakness and he has cried out in despair for every man and woman and young person who has ever tried to be consistently good under his or her own power:

"O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?"

And then Paul sighs deeply, relieved for all eternity to be able to say quietly and surely that he thanks God that Jesus Christ has delivered him from that "on-again, off-again" battle of ever-failing faith. And now the above verser reminds us that "there is therefore now no condemnation (no need to fail) to them which are in Christ Jesus." I'm glad, knowing how true is the description of myself in chapter 7 of Romans, that Paul adds here: " . . . to them . . . who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." We always choose. We can choose to walk after our own desires, or after the desires of the Spirit within us. If you and I choose to walk our way, we both know sooner or later, we'll stumble and fall. If we walk His way, we will get there. he is the way.

Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

By Eugenia Price, taken from "Share My Pleasant Stones"