Go to MUSER'S MUSINGS
- Add a comment
- Go to I LOVE BEING INSPIRED BY OTHER MEMBERS OF BLOGIT.COM. YESTERDAY
Muser,
This is really nice. As for inspiring each other, I'm sure we all experience that from time to time, and it's a good feeling, isn't it? :)
posted by
BlackPearl1
on March 17, 2006 at 4:51 PM
| link to this | reply
Thank you for reading, SYMPHONY.
posted by
muser
on March 16, 2006 at 5:18 AM
| link to this | reply
Thank you, shypettite for looking up the passage so you could comment.
That you made that extra effort is appreciated, and speaks well of you!
posted by
muser
on March 16, 2006 at 5:15 AM
| link to this | reply
Thank you TAPS-. I think it's a beautiful illustration of the battle
between the spiritual and the carnal. Thanks for reading.
posted by
muser
on March 16, 2006 at 5:11 AM
| link to this | reply
Talion, thanks for reading and commenting. As always, thanks for
inspiring us with your thought provoking posts.
posted by
muser
on March 16, 2006 at 5:01 AM
| link to this | reply
I went to this part of Bible- in my language- to understand better
and I am agree with your thoughts and comments.
posted by
shypettite
on March 14, 2006 at 7:56 PM
| link to this | reply
Justso, I think that Paul was an exceptional man. I agree with you that
we, like Paul, will always be tempted to fall back into our sinful nature. Paul, I believe, was an exceptional Christian...how could he not have been after his experience on the road to Damascus? He was stronger than most, and I believe he was able through his amazing faith because of his encounter with Christ on the Damascus road to resist most but not all temptation...otherwise, we would not have his impassioned message to stir our hearts and give us hope. Paul was exceptional, which was why he was in a position of great leadership. I am old fashioned, I guess and I know you are too...I expect my leaders to be a better person than I.
posted by
muser
on March 14, 2006 at 4:52 PM
| link to this | reply
Muser, you are so diplomatic. I don't know any more than you.
We have the same teacher. But you are so right.... We can never do it~~keep the law and please God. It must all be done in Christ. We can give more and more and more to him until the flesh is dead at least for a day. As he says in another place. I die daily. You said all this so beautifully. If only I could write like you. It is our duty as Christians to make every effort to do all possible to be right, knowing it is the work of the cross that makes it happen. I do believe one of the keys here is what you said... he kept being tempted. I don't think from bringing all his writings together that he kept on continuting to sin as much as he continued to be tempted. What do you think?
posted by
Justi
on March 14, 2006 at 3:08 PM
| link to this | reply
Thanks for sharing - take care
posted by
_Symphony_
on March 14, 2006 at 12:41 PM
| link to this | reply
muser
This is a beautiful post and always relevant and timely.
posted by
TAPS.
on March 14, 2006 at 11:09 AM
| link to this | reply
muser
I can certainly see how my post inspired this one. The conflict between what man wants to do and what he should do is timeless. It's the root of our greatest successes and most abysmal failures and possibly the one thing above others that makes us human. Great post and thanks for the shout-out.
posted by
Talion
on March 14, 2006 at 11:03 AM
| link to this | reply
Thank you, Justsouno....but I must defer to your greater knowledge of the
Bible. I think we are on the same page although I am not able to express what I want to say as easily or as simply as you. I was hoping you would tell me if my take on Paul's discourse is clear, or if it is as archaic as Paul's...LOL! This is my understanding of verses 15-25: Paul, now a Christian, realizes that even though he has the indwelling of God's spirit, he is still tempted to sin because of the weakness of his flesh. He knows the law and intellectually he knows what he should do to fulfill the law and please God...and he wants to do those things. He realizes also that while his spirit is willing, his flesh is weak...and so he continues to give in to his human nature which is the weakness of his body,and do the things he should not do...the very things he struggles not to do. Obviously he is conflicted. He realizes that he himself will never be able to uphold the law perfectly, that even though he has the indwelling of the Holy Spirit he will still stumble and fail because of the innate weakness of humankind. But he also finally realizes that he has an advocate, one who is stronger than the flesh of humankind, and that his dependence on Christ to deliver him from his sinful nature is his only true strength. At least this is my most current interpretation.
posted by
muser
on March 14, 2006 at 10:13 AM
| link to this | reply
Dave , I'm glad you were able to see beyond the source of those ten lines
that describe so splendidly Paul's struggle within himself with his carnal nature. I love the rich language of the King James Bible; I see it as one of the world's greatest treasures in literature.
posted by
muser
on March 14, 2006 at 9:24 AM
| link to this | reply
Hi ceemarie53, Thanks for reading, and I'm really glad you're going to
check out Talion's Blog. You won't be disappointed. Paul is difficult to read, but I keep going back and reading each line until I understand it!
posted by
muser
on March 14, 2006 at 9:11 AM
| link to this | reply
Muser,
I absolutely love this. I may be wrong but I think this means: To have and see the law made Paul aware of his sin. He himself can do nothing to stop his natural man from wanting and doing the things which are against God's plan; however, through the work of Jesus Christ he can be free of the burden of sin. In Christ all things are possible. Once we accept Christ as our saviour and the Holy Spirit comes to live in us, through him we can overcome all! And as we grow we overcome the desire to do wrong. Is this right? This passage used to confuse me no end it was like saying I had no control over my actions, but I do in Christ-totally!
posted by
Justi
on March 14, 2006 at 7:08 AM
| link to this | reply
Yes, we are all philosophers at heart
And that's an interesting biblical passage too. I'm not a bible-reader, but I often do come across passages from it that I find illuminating. As I do with all books, actually. Cheers, Muser. You have furnished me with a small nugget there.
posted by
_dave_says_ack_
on March 14, 2006 at 5:01 AM
| link to this | reply
a lovely post-
and now to look up Talion - I keep reading just one more (and I need to go to bed). I was giggling at what Blanche wrote - I got caught up in the ebb and flow of your writing - I find it eloquent! That's not to say I always get it, but I like it. I got to day dreaming about sitting with friends of old, drinking wine, pontificating........ ahh, the good 'ol days........
Cee
posted by
LadyCeeMarie
on March 14, 2006 at 12:41 AM
| link to this | reply
It's O.K., Blanche...I'm just a little different I guess. I like reading
Shakespeare also!
posted by
muser
on March 14, 2006 at 12:36 AM
| link to this | reply
Muser,
I've tried, really tried to read most of Paul's letters, but sentences like the one that starts "The good that I want to do, I do not do, but the evil that I want to do.." just make my head hurt. In principle, though, I get the gist and agree.
posted by
Blanche.
on March 13, 2006 at 11:48 PM
| link to this | reply