The Struggle

“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous One…” – 1 John 2:1 (NET Bible)

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus…”  Hebrews 12:1 – 2a (NET Bible)

“I am not unaware of the frailty of human nature.

I ask only that, while we may at times limp and

stumble along—as happens even to the most mature,

more often than anyone would wish—we should

nevertheless continue to judge and value each other

as Christians. But on one condition: that those who

stumble and trip up should not depart from the way

of the Lord, and that no amount of stumbling should

bring them to a complete halt. They should always

struggle to their feet and try consciously to overcome

whatever hinders their advance; although they may

totter and tremble, they should never lose heart.

Supposing they fall they should pick themselves up,

so that, at the end, nothing may stop them pressing

forward, or looking toward the kingdom of God,

which is their proper goal.”

John Calvin